668
Naviga- on
161 and sometimes contracted into Sc l62 it is also called ;
the Scandinavians it is termed
Scaethi.
Naviga- on
161 and sometimes contracted into Sc l62 it is also called ;
the Scandinavians it is termed
Scaethi.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
, cap.
30, "Life of St.
Columba," lib.
i.
, cap.
33,
p. 62.
PP- 58, 59- 129 In Dr.
Macculloch's "
tion of the Western Islands of Scotland," an account of this Island will be found in vol. i. ,
John
135 His feast at the 21st of Descrip- occurs,
pp. 262 to 419.
130 The accompanying illustration of this
April. See an account of him, at that date, in the
Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i.
136 Killashig, or Askimilruby, with Kilma-
ree in Strath, and Kilniolruy in Brackdale, Loch has been drawn by William F. Wake- were commemorative of St. Maelrubha,
man on the wood, engraved by Mrs. Millard.
131 The pencil of the accomplished artist, J. W. Turner, was employed- in delineating its sceneiy for an illustrated edition of Sir Walter Scott's works.
Loch, and presented a faithful — word-picture,
which he closes with these lines
" This lake," said Bruce, " whose bar-
riers drear
Are precipices sharp and sheer,
Yielding no track for goat or deer, Save the black shelves we tread.
whose pi incipal church of Apercrossan, now Applecross, is within view, on the mainland to the north-east.
137 See " Gazetteer of the World," vol. xii. , p. 641.
138 A very interesting account of Skye,
132 The illustrious Poet and Novelist of
Scotland has admirably desciibed this wild seen, in Thomas Pennant's " Tour in
:
361.
—
Canto iii. , sect. xvi.
Sir Walter Scott's "Lord of the Isles,"
after the middle of the last
Scotland, and mdcclxxii," part i. , pp. 324
Voyage
to
139 It was drained some thirty years ago,
by Lord Macdonald, the proprietor.
140 It measured about 16 yards in dia- meter east and west, and 11 north and
south.
be to the Hebrides,
century, may
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 435
one of the largest fresh water lakes on the Island of Skye. Towards its northern
extremity is an elevated spot, about three acres in extent, and which was for-
merly insulated. Tins was known as St. Columkille's Island. On the north
side of this island, there is an irregular circular enclosure of rude and extremely
11
ancient masonry. * Within are the traces of three distinct chambers or com-
partments. It was surrounded by a cyclopean cashel, the north face of which
is the most perfect, and it is in parts nearly eight feet thick. 11* 1
this, *
there is a quadrilateral building. *3 the cells and several rooms were
tury,
very distinguishable.
11 2 1
Near to After the middle ofthe last cen-
1 '*'* It is now commonly employed as an enclosure for cows. The roof has long fallen in, and the Avails, which are built with cement, are reduced to the height of five feet.
The adjacent ground is covered with masses of large grey stones, the debris of the walls. '45 At short distances are patches of ground, covered with grey
1"*6which
of this, and a little to the west of the main road to Portree, where Skabost
stones,
appear
tohavebeenthesitesofconventual I47 South buildings.
crosses the Snizort 1 '' 8 extends a Bridge river,
long
narrow
strip
of 140 ground,
insulated by the river. On this are the remains of two ancient buildings
standing within a large cemetery. That next the bridge, much the larger of the
two, was probably the old parish church ; that more remote is of smaller dimensions. 150 The parish church, now known as Snizort, was formerly dedi- cated to St. Columkille. 151 Proceeding southwards, we reach Portree, the inner bay of which north-west of the town was iormerly called as some old people remember Loch Columkille. In an Island, called Elena, 152 or Elene, which has not been identified by a modern name,153 St. Columba is supposed to have erected a religious establishment. To us it seems probable, that this site was attached to the Island of Skye. This foundation of Columba would appear to have been made during the closing years of his life. Lugneus Mocumin '54 was one of his disciples. He was placed, when an aged man, overamonasteryinElena,155andwhichseemstohaveexisted,beforehebecame
" the Tower," which a
141
writer of the seventeenth century describes
warrior.
ISI It is styled Satut Colnfs Kirk in Snes-
furd in Trouternes. See "Origines Paro- chiales Scoriae," vol. ii. , pars i. , p. 354.
Probably
"
es Scotise," vol. ii. , part i. , p. 349.
On the south-west.
143 It stands north and south, measuring
21 feet, 10 inches, by 12 feet, 2 inches.
144 See Thomas Pennant's "Tour in Scotland, and Voyage to the Hebrides,
mdcclxii," part i. , p. 346.
143 It is impossible to examine the area,
where one should expect to find trace of the cemetery. It may be, that some curious
as existing here. See
Origines Parochia-
142
I52 " The Rev. Dr. Lanigan snys of it,
remains are locked there. up
astical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect. xiv. , n. 160, p. 164.
I53 An identification has been attempted
by Colgan, but with indifferent su :cess ; for
he conjectures, that Elene may have been
used for Elethre, or for Ros-Elethre, i. e. ,
" Elethre," in which was vene- peninsula
rated a St. Fachna, brother to a St. Lug- neus. See "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Columbse, lib. ii. , cap. xviii. , nn. 17, 18, p. 383.
' 54 In the Latin version of Prince O'Don-
sepulchral
146 Probably of "the Town" mentioned by
an old writer, and of "the ruins of some buildings composed of stone without mor- tar," which were to be seen in 1772. See
"Origines *•» P-349-
Parochiales
Scotise,"
vol.
ii. , part
"
147 Mugsted recte Monkstead, is the name of the adjoining farm.
148 Near its entrance into Loch Snizort Bay.
149 Formerly it was enclosed by an earthen
'55 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," QuartaVitaS. Columbse,lib. ii. , cap. xviii. , p. 354. Also Quinta Vita S. Columbse,
rampart. See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "'"
Life of St. Columba," n. (a), p. 139.
150 This is chiefly worthy of notice, on ac- count of a curious slab, embedded in the
floor, and exhibiting the figure of an armed
lib. ii. , cap. lxxxv. , p. 425.
56 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiasti-
cal History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. ,
sect, xiv. , p. 162, andnn. 160, 170, pp. 164,169. ' 57 The traces of graves, and of a small
the same, I suppose, as Elen-ree, an—island be- longing to the shire of Argyle. " "Ecclesi-
nell's Life of our saint, he is called neus Monachus. "
Lug-
436 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
superior of it. 156 Near the shore of Skye, and under the sheriff's house, is a small island, still called Eilean Columkille^ about an eighth of a mile in
circumference. ^ made.
8
This may have been the Elena, to which allusion has been
— — ThatSt. Columbaformedsomeestablishment perhapsmorethanone
in the Island of Skye is very probable. 15^ It is related, that he spent some time there, and attended by others. We find this place variedly denomi-
nated l6°
Scith, Sceth,
While the saint for some few beingataplaceborderingonthesea,hestrucktheearthwithhisstaff. Then
he said to the monks, who were with him " Behold, my dear children, a cer-
:
tain Gentile,170 who all his lifetime followed the instincts and propensities ofa
11
good nature, ? shall this day be baptized, shall die, and he shall be buried in
2
thisveryplace. "'? Withinanhourorso,ashipsteeredintothesamehaven,'73
on whose fore-deck sat an aged Pagan chief of the Geona Cohort. This was pro- bably a Pictish corps, deriving its name from the district to which it belonged. The denomination Geona I74 had properly no relation to an Island,' 75 called Gunna, 170 although this has been assumed by some writers. '77 Two young
building standing east and west may there be discerned ; and, some old people remem- bered one or two interments on the islet. See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba," n. (a), pp. 138, 139.
l63 while Sgathaig; by
164 l6s and Skid, Skydu
,6°
See Annales Tighernaci, at A. D. 668.
Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicamm
Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 206.
161 See Annales Ultonienses, at A. D. 667,
ibid. , tomus vi. , p. 57.
162 In the Leabhar Lecan, fol.
a a, in the Royal Irish Academy, we find it noted
asSc.
161 In the " Transactions of the Gaelic
Society," it is written S5ACA15, at p. 118. 164 See the account of Haco's Expedition,
"
ubi Vestra-fyrdi. " See Johnstone's Olave, p. 10.
pp. 16, 46. Again,
165 See Death Song of Lodbroc, p. 107.
166
See ibid. , p. 23.
167 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
" Life of St. Columba," n. (b), p 62.
168 Allusion appears to be made to them in the following passage taken from the An-
nals of Tighernach, at A. D.
668
Naviga- on
161 and sometimes contracted into Sc l62 it is also called ;
the Scandinavians it is termed
Scaethi. 166 It is usually Latinized Scia, an adjective form agreeing with the Insula, to which the namehas reference. l67 Wemaybe sureSt. Columba hadasachiefmotiveforvisitingSkyethegoodofreligion. Inthishypothesis, it will not be denied that he erected, at least, a church in that Island, and connected with it were monks l68 to serve its requirements, and living in com-
munity.
days
remained in the Island of l69 Skye,
chiales Scotise," vol. ii. , part i. , p. 350.
170 This term Adamnan frequently applies to the Picts. See Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. , *s8 At high water, it is nearly covered caP- 37 5 also lib- "•» caP- 2> 27, 33, and
with stones, which were spread upon it for the drying of sea-wrack, and kilns for burn- ing kelp, so that the soil is nearly hidden.
1S' See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiasti-
cal History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. ,
sect, xiv. , p. 162, and n. 171, p. 169.
lib. iii. , cap. 14.
171 Treating on the subject of the old Pict-
ish Religion, Arts and Manufactures, Daniel Wilson observes, that he was led to the con- clusion "that the ancient Briton lived in the belief of a future state, and of some doctrine of probation and of final retribution, from the constant deposition beside the dead, not only of weapons, implements, and personal ornaments, but also of vessels which may be p—resumedtohavecontainedfoodanddrink. "
"The and Prehistoric An- Archaeology
nals of Scotland," part ii. , chap, viii. , p. 342.
172 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. ,cap. xxxiii. , p. 345. Also, Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. iii. , cap. xlix. , p. 418.
173 Mugstot, a farm beside Loch Choluim- cille, in the north of Skye, was the usual landing place from the Long Island.
174 Supposed by certain writers, to have been the name of some Island, near Skye.
175 Colgan and the Bollandists insert
139
169 C. Tunes explains the name as meaning ""
the winged isle. " See Origines Paro-
insula, but without authority. In his note ""
Geonae cohortis," Pinkerton observes tio filiorum Gart—nathi ad Iliberniam cum " Sic MS. et editiones. " See p. 82.
:
plebe Scithica. " Dr. O Conor's "Rerum
Hibernicamm tomus ii. , p. 206. Scriptores,"
:
174
is very small. See James A. " New Sharp's
It lies between Tiree and Coll, and it
Tune 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 437
men lifted him up between them, and brought him into the saint's presence.
He seems to have been a Pict ; and, it is evident from the anecdote, that at
18
his time, St. Columba was unacquainted with the Pictish language, ? one of
x
the five written languages ? 9 of Great Britain in the age of Venerable Bede,
and one of the four l8° which were 81 the of popularly spoken/ knowledge
Latin being confined to the clergy, and to the few learned laics who studied it. The object of his visitor appears to have been a great desire to see the man of such great renown as a Christian missionary, since the grace of Almighty God had illuminated his soul with the light of Divine Faith, so as to urge upon him the necessity for embracing it. Our saint was obliged to
usean in l82 that interpreter teaching
chief,
necessity for his at once entering into the fold of Christ was demonstrated.
This old man embraced the Christian Doctrine, and at St. Columba's hands,
also, this chief received the grace of regeneration. Immediately after the recep- tion of holy baptism, he gave up the ghost, and he was buried in that same place byhiscompanions. Aheapofstoneswasraisedasasepulchralcairnl83or monumentoverhisgrave. 184 InthetimeofAdamnan,thiscairnl8s wasto be seen on the sea coast. The river or spring, in which the chief had been
was called IntheGaelicl88 and
the inhabitants Dobur 186 at that time. 18? Artbranain,
baptized,
by
Gazetteer ; or Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands and Narrow Seas," &c,
vol. i. , p. 809.
177 Indented as Skye is on all sides with
loughs, and presenting from its lobster shape, so extensive a line of coast, with the Out Isles on the West, Rosshire on the east, and Invernesshire on the south, it is very difficult in the absence of local evidence, to conjec- ture from what side the old chief came, or what was the part of the coast, at which this interview took place.
178 The Pictish was undoubtedly a Celtic dialect, but more nearly allied to the British or Welsh, than to the Gaelic. Of this the eastern topography of Scotland is satisfac- tory evidence ; to which may be added the four recorded Pictish words Cartoit (1.
"
History of Paganism in Caledonia," &c,
•DeaL^ • 1 - beArvba CruncneAc),
sary," in voce. Again, Venerable Bede has
pp. 17, 26. Hence the whole name maybe
interpreted Noble-raven, Hardy-raven, or Rock-raven. We find the form Art-bran in
Tighernach's Annals at A. D. 716, 758, and
at A. D.
in the Annales Ultonienses 715, 757.
Peanuahel in the
"
Historia Ecclesiastica
Gentis Anglorum," lib. i. , cap. xii. , p. 53.
Also, Scollofthes,—"clerici quiPictorumlinqua "
Cymric languages, Dur, Duvr,
18?
Dywr,
1^ 1? 1 Dobur,
"
the Pictish tongue. " See Cormac's "Glos- tive of br\Aii, means "a raven. " See ibid. ,
cognominantur. Reginald Dunelmensis, ""
Cuthberti Virtutibus," p. 179, in the Sur- tees Society Publications. See also Robert- son, in " Miscellanies of the Spalding Club," vol. v. , p. 56.
See Zeuss' Graminatica Celtica," vol. i. ,
pp. 78, 281.
187 We find Dobhar Artbranain Latinized
"fluvius Art-branani," in Colgan's "Trias
179 These are defined to be "
Vita S. Columbae, lib. ii. , cap. xlix. , p. 418.
Anglorum, Brhton—um, Scottorum, Pictorum, et Latino- rum. " " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis An-
Thaumaturga," Quinta
glorum," lib. i. , cap. i. , p. 22.
180 Alluded to as " Brittonum, Pictorum,
Scottorum et Anglorum. "
181 See ibid. , lib. iii. , cap. vi. , p. 174.
182
The reference cannot be to the Latin language, because in such case the teacher could be his own interpreter.
183 See a description of this class of Scot- tish monuments, in Dr. Thomas A. Wise's
"
"an otter," in the Gaelic, and Dobor-ci in
the Cymric. See SAHAr" Cho|\iriAic, or Cor-
mac's Glossary, vocibus, •oobAj\, and coin-
fo-ooi]\ne, pp. 40, 53.
189 A curious story is told by Giraldus
Cambrensis, about a boy who was carried
a pin, in
Stokes, at p. 3. Again, b]\AnAn, the diminu-
whowassoon andthe convinced,
book i. , chap, ix. , sect, iii. , pp. 138 to 140. 184 The cl—assical reader will recall that line
of Homer
" Then raised a mountain where his bones were burn'd. "
—Pope's translation, book vi. , 1. , 530.
185 An account of one, which was opened in the parish of Suizort in this island, may be seen in the "Old Statistical Survey of Scotland," vol. xviii. , p. 186.
186 Athbrenan is a Gaelic as well as a Pictish name, being compounded of aj\c, which Cormac explains by ua^aL "noble,"
i88 Thus we
:
or by "a stone," or "a grave-flag," in his ""
Glossary, subvoce. SeeSArtAfChojvmAic, edited by Drs. John O'Donovan and Whitley
Aniin coic- unde dicitur -oob&jvci if in cotnbj\ec, unde
read
-oo
ce. TO icejA 5AToeiic ocuf Cotnbj\ec "o'uifce
dicitur Dobhar-chu,
a water-dog," i. e. ,
:
bAj\
438
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
T92 or Dobar,1^has the ofwater. T9* TobarBrennan*93 is signification
16
Dour,
the only name resembling the foregoing one, in the Island of Skye. '
Partly by mortification, and partly by powerful resistance, St. Columba sub- dued, with the assistance of Christ, the furious rage of wild beasts. On one occasion, when the holy man was staying some days in the Island of Skye, he separated from the brethren, and went alone to pray. Having gone a little further than usual, he entered a thicket, where he met a huge wild boar, that
was pursued by hounds. 10? Soon as the saint saw him at some distance, he
stood looking intently at the beast. Then raising his holy hand and invoking
thenameofGodinferventprayer,hesaid "Proceednofurtherinthisdirec- :
tion ; perish on the spot, which you have now reached. " At the sound of
these words, pronounced by the saint in the thicket, that terrible brute was
not only unable to proceed further, but through the efficacy of Columba's word, the boar immediately fell dead beforehim. 1'8
On the Island of Oronsay,'99 St. Columba is stated to have founded a
200 and here too tradition
in Scotland, after his leaving Ireland. 201
the first of the Abbot landing holy
It is probable, there had been an
monastery,
places
ancient church on that Island, and which has now disappeared; but still a
Church, Chapel, and Priory, in ruins, may there be seen, and these were
dedicated to St. 202 the most entire and extensive remains of Columba, being
20 ancient monastic establishments found in the Western Isles. ^
off by the fairies to a beautiful region of their 196 There may be some vestige of this own in Wales. Among other matters, he name, also, in Braddan Head, on the north- related certain words they used, very con- east shore. See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adam-
"
formable to the Greek idiom, and this word nan's Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap.
closely resembling the British. Thus when 33, and nn. (a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h), pp. 62
the fairies wanted water, they cried out
to 64.
197 See "Trias Colgan's
" Thaumaturga,
rendered in Latin "
Ydor
offer. " Giraldus adds
eorum lingua, sicut et Graeca dicebatur : unde et vasa aquatica Ydrice dicuntur : et
ydorum,
aquam " Ydor enim aqua
:
Dtnir— Britannicasimiliter lingua aqua
Prima Vita S. Columbaa, cap. xxiv. , p. 324 Quarta Vita S. Columbse, lib.
p. 62.
PP- 58, 59- 129 In Dr.
Macculloch's "
tion of the Western Islands of Scotland," an account of this Island will be found in vol. i. ,
John
135 His feast at the 21st of Descrip- occurs,
pp. 262 to 419.
130 The accompanying illustration of this
April. See an account of him, at that date, in the
Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i.
136 Killashig, or Askimilruby, with Kilma-
ree in Strath, and Kilniolruy in Brackdale, Loch has been drawn by William F. Wake- were commemorative of St. Maelrubha,
man on the wood, engraved by Mrs. Millard.
131 The pencil of the accomplished artist, J. W. Turner, was employed- in delineating its sceneiy for an illustrated edition of Sir Walter Scott's works.
Loch, and presented a faithful — word-picture,
which he closes with these lines
" This lake," said Bruce, " whose bar-
riers drear
Are precipices sharp and sheer,
Yielding no track for goat or deer, Save the black shelves we tread.
whose pi incipal church of Apercrossan, now Applecross, is within view, on the mainland to the north-east.
137 See " Gazetteer of the World," vol. xii. , p. 641.
138 A very interesting account of Skye,
132 The illustrious Poet and Novelist of
Scotland has admirably desciibed this wild seen, in Thomas Pennant's " Tour in
:
361.
—
Canto iii. , sect. xvi.
Sir Walter Scott's "Lord of the Isles,"
after the middle of the last
Scotland, and mdcclxxii," part i. , pp. 324
Voyage
to
139 It was drained some thirty years ago,
by Lord Macdonald, the proprietor.
140 It measured about 16 yards in dia- meter east and west, and 11 north and
south.
be to the Hebrides,
century, may
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 435
one of the largest fresh water lakes on the Island of Skye. Towards its northern
extremity is an elevated spot, about three acres in extent, and which was for-
merly insulated. Tins was known as St. Columkille's Island. On the north
side of this island, there is an irregular circular enclosure of rude and extremely
11
ancient masonry. * Within are the traces of three distinct chambers or com-
partments. It was surrounded by a cyclopean cashel, the north face of which
is the most perfect, and it is in parts nearly eight feet thick. 11* 1
this, *
there is a quadrilateral building. *3 the cells and several rooms were
tury,
very distinguishable.
11 2 1
Near to After the middle ofthe last cen-
1 '*'* It is now commonly employed as an enclosure for cows. The roof has long fallen in, and the Avails, which are built with cement, are reduced to the height of five feet.
The adjacent ground is covered with masses of large grey stones, the debris of the walls. '45 At short distances are patches of ground, covered with grey
1"*6which
of this, and a little to the west of the main road to Portree, where Skabost
stones,
appear
tohavebeenthesitesofconventual I47 South buildings.
crosses the Snizort 1 '' 8 extends a Bridge river,
long
narrow
strip
of 140 ground,
insulated by the river. On this are the remains of two ancient buildings
standing within a large cemetery. That next the bridge, much the larger of the
two, was probably the old parish church ; that more remote is of smaller dimensions. 150 The parish church, now known as Snizort, was formerly dedi- cated to St. Columkille. 151 Proceeding southwards, we reach Portree, the inner bay of which north-west of the town was iormerly called as some old people remember Loch Columkille. In an Island, called Elena, 152 or Elene, which has not been identified by a modern name,153 St. Columba is supposed to have erected a religious establishment. To us it seems probable, that this site was attached to the Island of Skye. This foundation of Columba would appear to have been made during the closing years of his life. Lugneus Mocumin '54 was one of his disciples. He was placed, when an aged man, overamonasteryinElena,155andwhichseemstohaveexisted,beforehebecame
" the Tower," which a
141
writer of the seventeenth century describes
warrior.
ISI It is styled Satut Colnfs Kirk in Snes-
furd in Trouternes. See "Origines Paro- chiales Scoriae," vol. ii. , pars i. , p. 354.
Probably
"
es Scotise," vol. ii. , part i. , p. 349.
On the south-west.
143 It stands north and south, measuring
21 feet, 10 inches, by 12 feet, 2 inches.
144 See Thomas Pennant's "Tour in Scotland, and Voyage to the Hebrides,
mdcclxii," part i. , p. 346.
143 It is impossible to examine the area,
where one should expect to find trace of the cemetery. It may be, that some curious
as existing here. See
Origines Parochia-
142
I52 " The Rev. Dr. Lanigan snys of it,
remains are locked there. up
astical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect. xiv. , n. 160, p. 164.
I53 An identification has been attempted
by Colgan, but with indifferent su :cess ; for
he conjectures, that Elene may have been
used for Elethre, or for Ros-Elethre, i. e. ,
" Elethre," in which was vene- peninsula
rated a St. Fachna, brother to a St. Lug- neus. See "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Columbse, lib. ii. , cap. xviii. , nn. 17, 18, p. 383.
' 54 In the Latin version of Prince O'Don-
sepulchral
146 Probably of "the Town" mentioned by
an old writer, and of "the ruins of some buildings composed of stone without mor- tar," which were to be seen in 1772. See
"Origines *•» P-349-
Parochiales
Scotise,"
vol.
ii. , part
"
147 Mugsted recte Monkstead, is the name of the adjoining farm.
148 Near its entrance into Loch Snizort Bay.
149 Formerly it was enclosed by an earthen
'55 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," QuartaVitaS. Columbse,lib. ii. , cap. xviii. , p. 354. Also Quinta Vita S. Columbse,
rampart. See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "'"
Life of St. Columba," n. (a), p. 139.
150 This is chiefly worthy of notice, on ac- count of a curious slab, embedded in the
floor, and exhibiting the figure of an armed
lib. ii. , cap. lxxxv. , p. 425.
56 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiasti-
cal History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. ,
sect, xiv. , p. 162, andnn. 160, 170, pp. 164,169. ' 57 The traces of graves, and of a small
the same, I suppose, as Elen-ree, an—island be- longing to the shire of Argyle. " "Ecclesi-
nell's Life of our saint, he is called neus Monachus. "
Lug-
436 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
superior of it. 156 Near the shore of Skye, and under the sheriff's house, is a small island, still called Eilean Columkille^ about an eighth of a mile in
circumference. ^ made.
8
This may have been the Elena, to which allusion has been
— — ThatSt. Columbaformedsomeestablishment perhapsmorethanone
in the Island of Skye is very probable. 15^ It is related, that he spent some time there, and attended by others. We find this place variedly denomi-
nated l6°
Scith, Sceth,
While the saint for some few beingataplaceborderingonthesea,hestrucktheearthwithhisstaff. Then
he said to the monks, who were with him " Behold, my dear children, a cer-
:
tain Gentile,170 who all his lifetime followed the instincts and propensities ofa
11
good nature, ? shall this day be baptized, shall die, and he shall be buried in
2
thisveryplace. "'? Withinanhourorso,ashipsteeredintothesamehaven,'73
on whose fore-deck sat an aged Pagan chief of the Geona Cohort. This was pro- bably a Pictish corps, deriving its name from the district to which it belonged. The denomination Geona I74 had properly no relation to an Island,' 75 called Gunna, 170 although this has been assumed by some writers. '77 Two young
building standing east and west may there be discerned ; and, some old people remem- bered one or two interments on the islet. See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba," n. (a), pp. 138, 139.
l63 while Sgathaig; by
164 l6s and Skid, Skydu
,6°
See Annales Tighernaci, at A. D. 668.
Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicamm
Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 206.
161 See Annales Ultonienses, at A. D. 667,
ibid. , tomus vi. , p. 57.
162 In the Leabhar Lecan, fol.
a a, in the Royal Irish Academy, we find it noted
asSc.
161 In the " Transactions of the Gaelic
Society," it is written S5ACA15, at p. 118. 164 See the account of Haco's Expedition,
"
ubi Vestra-fyrdi. " See Johnstone's Olave, p. 10.
pp. 16, 46. Again,
165 See Death Song of Lodbroc, p. 107.
166
See ibid. , p. 23.
167 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
" Life of St. Columba," n. (b), p 62.
168 Allusion appears to be made to them in the following passage taken from the An-
nals of Tighernach, at A. D.
668
Naviga- on
161 and sometimes contracted into Sc l62 it is also called ;
the Scandinavians it is termed
Scaethi. 166 It is usually Latinized Scia, an adjective form agreeing with the Insula, to which the namehas reference. l67 Wemaybe sureSt. Columba hadasachiefmotiveforvisitingSkyethegoodofreligion. Inthishypothesis, it will not be denied that he erected, at least, a church in that Island, and connected with it were monks l68 to serve its requirements, and living in com-
munity.
days
remained in the Island of l69 Skye,
chiales Scotise," vol. ii. , part i. , p. 350.
170 This term Adamnan frequently applies to the Picts. See Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. , *s8 At high water, it is nearly covered caP- 37 5 also lib- "•» caP- 2> 27, 33, and
with stones, which were spread upon it for the drying of sea-wrack, and kilns for burn- ing kelp, so that the soil is nearly hidden.
1S' See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiasti-
cal History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. ,
sect, xiv. , p. 162, and n. 171, p. 169.
lib. iii. , cap. 14.
171 Treating on the subject of the old Pict-
ish Religion, Arts and Manufactures, Daniel Wilson observes, that he was led to the con- clusion "that the ancient Briton lived in the belief of a future state, and of some doctrine of probation and of final retribution, from the constant deposition beside the dead, not only of weapons, implements, and personal ornaments, but also of vessels which may be p—resumedtohavecontainedfoodanddrink. "
"The and Prehistoric An- Archaeology
nals of Scotland," part ii. , chap, viii. , p. 342.
172 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. ,cap. xxxiii. , p. 345. Also, Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. iii. , cap. xlix. , p. 418.
173 Mugstot, a farm beside Loch Choluim- cille, in the north of Skye, was the usual landing place from the Long Island.
174 Supposed by certain writers, to have been the name of some Island, near Skye.
175 Colgan and the Bollandists insert
139
169 C. Tunes explains the name as meaning ""
the winged isle. " See Origines Paro-
insula, but without authority. In his note ""
Geonae cohortis," Pinkerton observes tio filiorum Gart—nathi ad Iliberniam cum " Sic MS. et editiones. " See p. 82.
:
plebe Scithica. " Dr. O Conor's "Rerum
Hibernicamm tomus ii. , p. 206. Scriptores,"
:
174
is very small. See James A. " New Sharp's
It lies between Tiree and Coll, and it
Tune 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 437
men lifted him up between them, and brought him into the saint's presence.
He seems to have been a Pict ; and, it is evident from the anecdote, that at
18
his time, St. Columba was unacquainted with the Pictish language, ? one of
x
the five written languages ? 9 of Great Britain in the age of Venerable Bede,
and one of the four l8° which were 81 the of popularly spoken/ knowledge
Latin being confined to the clergy, and to the few learned laics who studied it. The object of his visitor appears to have been a great desire to see the man of such great renown as a Christian missionary, since the grace of Almighty God had illuminated his soul with the light of Divine Faith, so as to urge upon him the necessity for embracing it. Our saint was obliged to
usean in l82 that interpreter teaching
chief,
necessity for his at once entering into the fold of Christ was demonstrated.
This old man embraced the Christian Doctrine, and at St. Columba's hands,
also, this chief received the grace of regeneration. Immediately after the recep- tion of holy baptism, he gave up the ghost, and he was buried in that same place byhiscompanions. Aheapofstoneswasraisedasasepulchralcairnl83or monumentoverhisgrave. 184 InthetimeofAdamnan,thiscairnl8s wasto be seen on the sea coast. The river or spring, in which the chief had been
was called IntheGaelicl88 and
the inhabitants Dobur 186 at that time. 18? Artbranain,
baptized,
by
Gazetteer ; or Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands and Narrow Seas," &c,
vol. i. , p. 809.
177 Indented as Skye is on all sides with
loughs, and presenting from its lobster shape, so extensive a line of coast, with the Out Isles on the West, Rosshire on the east, and Invernesshire on the south, it is very difficult in the absence of local evidence, to conjec- ture from what side the old chief came, or what was the part of the coast, at which this interview took place.
178 The Pictish was undoubtedly a Celtic dialect, but more nearly allied to the British or Welsh, than to the Gaelic. Of this the eastern topography of Scotland is satisfac- tory evidence ; to which may be added the four recorded Pictish words Cartoit (1.
"
History of Paganism in Caledonia," &c,
•DeaL^ • 1 - beArvba CruncneAc),
sary," in voce. Again, Venerable Bede has
pp. 17, 26. Hence the whole name maybe
interpreted Noble-raven, Hardy-raven, or Rock-raven. We find the form Art-bran in
Tighernach's Annals at A. D. 716, 758, and
at A. D.
in the Annales Ultonienses 715, 757.
Peanuahel in the
"
Historia Ecclesiastica
Gentis Anglorum," lib. i. , cap. xii. , p. 53.
Also, Scollofthes,—"clerici quiPictorumlinqua "
Cymric languages, Dur, Duvr,
18?
Dywr,
1^ 1? 1 Dobur,
"
the Pictish tongue. " See Cormac's "Glos- tive of br\Aii, means "a raven. " See ibid. ,
cognominantur. Reginald Dunelmensis, ""
Cuthberti Virtutibus," p. 179, in the Sur- tees Society Publications. See also Robert- son, in " Miscellanies of the Spalding Club," vol. v. , p. 56.
See Zeuss' Graminatica Celtica," vol. i. ,
pp. 78, 281.
187 We find Dobhar Artbranain Latinized
"fluvius Art-branani," in Colgan's "Trias
179 These are defined to be "
Vita S. Columbae, lib. ii. , cap. xlix. , p. 418.
Anglorum, Brhton—um, Scottorum, Pictorum, et Latino- rum. " " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis An-
Thaumaturga," Quinta
glorum," lib. i. , cap. i. , p. 22.
180 Alluded to as " Brittonum, Pictorum,
Scottorum et Anglorum. "
181 See ibid. , lib. iii. , cap. vi. , p. 174.
182
The reference cannot be to the Latin language, because in such case the teacher could be his own interpreter.
183 See a description of this class of Scot- tish monuments, in Dr. Thomas A. Wise's
"
"an otter," in the Gaelic, and Dobor-ci in
the Cymric. See SAHAr" Cho|\iriAic, or Cor-
mac's Glossary, vocibus, •oobAj\, and coin-
fo-ooi]\ne, pp. 40, 53.
189 A curious story is told by Giraldus
Cambrensis, about a boy who was carried
a pin, in
Stokes, at p. 3. Again, b]\AnAn, the diminu-
whowassoon andthe convinced,
book i. , chap, ix. , sect, iii. , pp. 138 to 140. 184 The cl—assical reader will recall that line
of Homer
" Then raised a mountain where his bones were burn'd. "
—Pope's translation, book vi. , 1. , 530.
185 An account of one, which was opened in the parish of Suizort in this island, may be seen in the "Old Statistical Survey of Scotland," vol. xviii. , p. 186.
186 Athbrenan is a Gaelic as well as a Pictish name, being compounded of aj\c, which Cormac explains by ua^aL "noble,"
i88 Thus we
:
or by "a stone," or "a grave-flag," in his ""
Glossary, subvoce. SeeSArtAfChojvmAic, edited by Drs. John O'Donovan and Whitley
Aniin coic- unde dicitur -oob&jvci if in cotnbj\ec, unde
read
-oo
ce. TO icejA 5AToeiic ocuf Cotnbj\ec "o'uifce
dicitur Dobhar-chu,
a water-dog," i. e. ,
:
bAj\
438
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
T92 or Dobar,1^has the ofwater. T9* TobarBrennan*93 is signification
16
Dour,
the only name resembling the foregoing one, in the Island of Skye. '
Partly by mortification, and partly by powerful resistance, St. Columba sub- dued, with the assistance of Christ, the furious rage of wild beasts. On one occasion, when the holy man was staying some days in the Island of Skye, he separated from the brethren, and went alone to pray. Having gone a little further than usual, he entered a thicket, where he met a huge wild boar, that
was pursued by hounds. 10? Soon as the saint saw him at some distance, he
stood looking intently at the beast. Then raising his holy hand and invoking
thenameofGodinferventprayer,hesaid "Proceednofurtherinthisdirec- :
tion ; perish on the spot, which you have now reached. " At the sound of
these words, pronounced by the saint in the thicket, that terrible brute was
not only unable to proceed further, but through the efficacy of Columba's word, the boar immediately fell dead beforehim. 1'8
On the Island of Oronsay,'99 St. Columba is stated to have founded a
200 and here too tradition
in Scotland, after his leaving Ireland. 201
the first of the Abbot landing holy
It is probable, there had been an
monastery,
places
ancient church on that Island, and which has now disappeared; but still a
Church, Chapel, and Priory, in ruins, may there be seen, and these were
dedicated to St. 202 the most entire and extensive remains of Columba, being
20 ancient monastic establishments found in the Western Isles. ^
off by the fairies to a beautiful region of their 196 There may be some vestige of this own in Wales. Among other matters, he name, also, in Braddan Head, on the north- related certain words they used, very con- east shore. See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adam-
"
formable to the Greek idiom, and this word nan's Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap.
closely resembling the British. Thus when 33, and nn. (a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h), pp. 62
the fairies wanted water, they cried out
to 64.
197 See "Trias Colgan's
" Thaumaturga,
rendered in Latin "
Ydor
offer. " Giraldus adds
eorum lingua, sicut et Graeca dicebatur : unde et vasa aquatica Ydrice dicuntur : et
ydorum,
aquam " Ydor enim aqua
:
Dtnir— Britannicasimiliter lingua aqua
Prima Vita S. Columbaa, cap. xxiv. , p. 324 Quarta Vita S. Columbse, lib.
