'S Seumas gorach mar thighearn,
'S Seumas glic mar fhear-tomhais—
A mharcaicheas gun srian
Air loth fhiadhaich a roghainn;
Ach cuiridh mor chuis gun chiall
'N aite siol nam fiadh siol nan gobhar;
'S tuitidh an t-Eilean-dubh briagha
Fuidh riaghladh iasgairean Auch.

Literal translation :—

The heir (or chief) of the Mackenzies will take

A white rook out of the wood,

And will take a wife from a music house (dancing saloon),

With his people against him!

And the heir will be great
In deeds and as an orator,
When the Pope in Rome
Will be thrown off his throne.
Over opposite Creag-a-Chow

Will dwell a diminutive lean tailor,

Also Foolish James as the laird,

And Wise James as a measurer,

Who will ride without a bridle

The wild colt of his choice;

But foolish pride without sense

Will put in the place of the seed of the deer the seed of the goat;
And the beautiful Black Isle will fall

Under the management of the fishermen of Avoch.

We have not learnt that any of the Rosehaugh Mackenzies has, as yet, taken a white rook from the woods; nor have we heard anything suggested as to what this part of the prophecy may refer to. We are, however, credibly informed that one of the late Mackenzies of Rosehaugh had taken his wife from a music saloon in one of our southern cities, and that his people were very much against him for so doing. One of them, Sir George, no doubt was "great in deeds and as an orator," but we fail to discover any connection between the time in which he lived and the time "when the Pope in Rome would be thrown off his throne." We are unable to suggest the meaning of the first six lines of the second stanza, but the seventh and eighth have been most literally fulfilled, for there can be no doubt that "foolish pride without sense" has brought about what the Seer predicted, and secured, for the present at any rate, the seed of the goat where the seed of the deer used to rule. The deer, and the deer's horns, as is well known, are the armorial bearings of the Mackenzies, while the goat is that of the Fletchers, who now rule in Rosehaugh, on the ruins of its once great and famous Cabair-feidh.

The beautiful Black Isle has not yet fallen under the management of the fishermen of Avoch,* but who knows but some fisherman from that humble village may yet amass a sufficient fortune to buy the whole. The old proprietors, we regret, are rapidly making way with their "foolish pride without sense," for some one to purchase it.

(To be Continued.)

* Since this was in type, a friend who accidentally read the proof, asked us whether we were not aware of the fact that the present proprietor of Rosehaugh was the son of

THE HIGHLAND CEILIDH.
BY ALASTAIR OG.

[CONTINUED.]

KENNETH FRASER having finished the MacBeath part of the story, asked Ruairidh Mor a Chnuic to give that part of it which gave an account of Hector Roy's conflict with the Earl of Ross, and his future troubles; and of how the Mackenzies first came to obtain possession of the lands of Gairloch. Roderick at once consented, and proceeded to relate, as follows:

CIA-MAR THAINIG CLANN CHOINNICH A GHEARRLOCH. BHA tighearna MacCoinnich ann uair-eigin a phos nighean a Mhorair Rois, agus bha i air leth shuil, agus ge be air bith a thainig eadar an tighearna MacCoinnich agus a Morair Ros 'sa nighean, chuir e dhachaidh thuige fhein i, agus chuir e i air muin eich air leth shuil, agus chuir e gille air leth shuil leitha, agus cu air leth shuil cuide riu. Ghabh a Morair Ros do dh' ardan 's gur ann a thigeadh e a sgrios Chlann Choinnich.

Bha gnothaichean an teaghlaich aig an am so car ro mhi-chearbach. Se Coinneach, mac na mna chaidh a chur dhachaidh, a b'oighre dligheach am beachd cuid, ach cha robh ann ach duine nach robh buileach glic; cha robh e fada dar a thoisich e air cogadh ris an righ, agus fhuair an righ greim air, agus chuireadh gu bas e. Cha d'fhag e cloinn, agus fhuair a bhrathair, gille gle og, an oighreachd. Bha Eachainn Ruadh, brathair athair, na dhuine anabarrach tapaidh, agus dar a thainig a Morair Ros a thoir a mach dioghaltas, air son a nighean a chuir dhachaidh air a leithid a sheol tamailteach, 's ann ri Eachainn Ruadh a bha Clann Choinnich, gu leir, ag earbsa mar cheann-feadhna.

an Avoch fisherman? We admitted our ignorance, and expressed our surprise. Our friend then informed us that a Mr Jack, who followed the avocation of a fisherman in the village of Avoch for many years, left the place and went to reside in Elgin, where he commenced business as a small general dealer, or "huckster "; that some of the boys-his sons-exhibited a peculiar smartness while in school; that this was noticed by a lady relative of their mother, an aunt, he thought, of the name of Fletcher, who encouraged and helped on the education of the boys, and who took one or more of them to her own home, and brought them up; afterwards they found their way south, and ultimately became successful merchants and landed proprietors. In corroboration of the main facts above stated, we give the following from " Walford's County Families of the United Kingdom":"FLETCHER, JAMES, Esq. of Rosehaugh, Ross-shire, son of the late William Jack, Esq., by Isabel, dau. of the late Charles Fletcher, Esq., and brother of J. C. Fletcher, Esq.; b. 18-; m. 1852, Frederica Mary, dau. of John Stephen, Esq., niece of Sir Alfred Stephen, C.B., Chief Justice of New South Wales, and widow of Alexander Hay, Esq., of the 58th Regt. He assumed

the name of Fletcher in lieu of his patronymic on the death of his mother in 1856." These are facts of which we were entirely ignorant when writing down the stanzas above given. The verses were sent to us from various quarters, and they have undoubtedly been floating about the country for generations. So much for the Seer's prophetic power in this instance. Were we acquainted with the history of the other families referred to in the stanzas, it is probable that more light could be thrown upon what they refer to, than we are at present able to do.

Thug a Morair Ros leis seachd ciad fear, air son cogadh ri Eachainn Ruadh, agus na bh' aige 'sgrios. Air cluinntinn do dh-Eachainn Ruadh air a so, chruinnich esa a dhaoine fhein, ach cha b-urrainn e thogail ach seachd fichead fear-fichead ma choinneamh a chiad a bh' aig a Mhorair.

Choinnich iad a cheile; char iad ann an ordugh, agus thoisich an cath, agus bha duine ann an sin air an robh Ruairidh Mor Mac-a-Linnean, ris an abrair mar fhrith-ainm "Suarachan," agus chaidh e a choimhead a chatha. Bha 'n gnothuich a cuir teth ri Eachainn Ruadh, 's thainig e chon an robh Suarachan, agus thubhairt e ris, "An ann mar so a tha 'Ruairidh 's mise ann an cruaidh-chas, 's nach eil thu ga ma chobhar." "Gu de gheibh mi?" ars' a Ruairidh, "Gheibh thu cuid fir ars' Eachainn Ruadh. Dh-eirich Suarachan, 's le chlaidheamh mor fhein mharbh e duine, 's shuidh e air a chorp.

Thainig Eachainn Ruadh na rathad an dara h-uair, agus thuirt e ris : "An ann mar so a tha 'rithisd a Ruairidh, 's mise an cruadh-chas?" "Gu de gheibh mi ars' a Suarachan," a rithisd. "Gheibh thu cuid dithis," ars' Eachainn Ruadh. Dh'eirich Ruairidh, 's le chlaidheamh mor fhein mharbh e fear eile, 's shuidh e air a chorp.

Thainig Eachainn Ruadh an treas uair agus thuirt e, "An ann mar so a tha'rithisd a Ruairidh, 's mise ann am fior chruaidh-chas." "Cha da gheall thu dhomhs' ach cuid dithis" arsa Suarachan, 's mharbh mi dithis." "Cha bhithinn a cunntadh riut," ars' Eachainn Ruadh. Dh-eirich Suarachan le chlaidheamh mor ruisgte, 's e 'g eigheachd an aird a ghuth, "Am fear nach biodh a cunntadh rium, cha bhithinn a cunntadh ris." Thoisich e air an namhaid, 's chaidh an ruaig orra ann an uin' ghearr, agus thainig iad nan cabhaig gu taobh na h-aibhne, agus choinnich iad bean ris an da dh'fhoinnich iad "c'aite'n robh an t-ath air an abhuinn, air am faigheadh iad a null," "Oh, ghaolaich," arsa 'bhean, "is aon ath an abhuinn, ged tha i dubh cha'n eil i domhain." Thainig an ruaig cho teann orra 's gu robh iad a dol a mach air an abhuinn an aite sam bith an robh i tachairt riu. Bha iad a dol leis an abhuinn nan ciadan, agus bha moran phreas ri 'taobh, air an robh iad a deanamh greim. Bha Suarachan a coimhead so, agus a h-uile fear a chitheadh e 'gabhail greim air preas, bha e ruith thuige, a gearradh a phris, agus ag radh, "mo na bha mi leigeil urad leat dheth an latha, leigidh mi sin leat." Chaill am Morair Ros an latha, 's choisinn Eachainn Ruadh.

Dar a thainig an t-sìth, shuidh Eachainn Ruadh sa chuid daoine sios gu biadh, ach cha robh ac' ach bonnach dha gach fear; 's cha robh bonnach idir ann da Shuarachan, ach a thug a h-uile duine greim a bhonnach fhein da, 's mar sin fhuair e an earrainn bu mho-seachd fichead greim.

A nise dar a chunnaic a Morair Ros nach b'urrainn e e fhein a dhioladh air Eachainn Ruadh, chaidh e dh-ionnsaidh 'n righ, agus fhuair e airgiod cheann a chuir a Eachainn Ruadh air son a ghlacadh. B'fheudar do

dh-Eachainn teicheadh, ach lean da-dhuine-dheug e, agus far am biodh e'n diugh cha b'ann a bhiodh e 'maireach. Bha e na lagh aig an am so na'n gleidheadh fear as am biodh airgiod cheann e fhein seachd bliadhna, gum biodh e saor o'n toireachd.

Aig an am so cha robh uachdaran air Gall-thaobh ach an righ fhein, agus 'se MacCailean Ar-a-ghaidheil, carraide da dh' Eachainn Ruadh a

thaobh a mhathair, a bhiodh an righ cur a thogail a mhail, agus fhuair Eachainn Ruadh a mach gun deach na Gallaich an co-bhonn ri cheile gum marbhadh iad Clann 'ic Chailean an ath uair a thigeadh iad a thogail a mhail. Dar a fhuair Eachainn Ruadh a mach gun robh so an ruin nan Gallach, thug e Gall-thaobh air le dha-dhuine-dheug.

Bha e ann am monadh Ghall-thaobh agus thainig MacCailean le bhuidhinn-dion; thog iad an cuid buthan dhoibh fhein, agus chuir iad seachad an oidhche ann an sin. Dh-eirich iad sa mhaduinn, sheall MacCailean a mach, agus bha na Gallaich air cruinneachdainn 'os a chionn. Thainig e steach am measg a chuid daoine agus thuirt e riu mar a gearr sibh troimh na Gallaich, cuiridh iad amach air a mhuir sinn; ach tha mi 'faicinn duine mor os an cionn, agus da dhuine-dheug cuide ris, agus 's mo tha e cur a dh' eagal orm na na Gallaich gu leir."

Chaidh MacCailean sa dhaoine fuidh 'n airmeachd agus dh-fhalbh iad gu gearradh tromha. Dar a thoisich a chomh-stri, thigeadar Eachainn Ruadh sa dha-dhuine-dheug a nuas; thoisich iad air na Gallaich; se robheag dhiubh fhuair as; thainig an t-sìth, agus char Eachainn Ruadh agus MacCailean an cainnt a cheile. Dh-innis Eachainn da MhacCailean an staid anns an robh e. "Gu de," arsa MacCailean, as urra mise, agus as miannach leat mi, dheanamh air da shon." "'S tu fein as fhearr fios," ars' Eachainn Ruadh. "Theid thu 'Dhun-eidin air a leithid so da latha, coinnichidh mise ann an sin thu, agus chi mi gu de 's urrainn mi dheanamh air da shon," arsa MacCailean.

Air an latha 'chaidh a chur air leth, dh'fhalbh Eachainn Ruadh a Dhun-eidin, choinnich MacCailean an sin e, agus shuidhich e ris gum biodh esa 's an righ ann a leithid so da dh' aite, air a leithid so da latha, esa (Eachain Ruadh) a dhol seachad, agus a nuair a chitheadh e MacCailean san righ cuideachd, e thighinn far am biodh iad, 's a dhol air a ghlun air beulabh 'n righ; agus, thuirt MacCailean ris, gum beireadh an righ air laimh air, gu thogail, "agus cuimhnich," ars esa, "gu n aithnich a lamh gun d-rug e ort."

Roimhe so, bha MacCailean 's an righ a bruidhinn ri cheile mu dheidhinn Eachainn Ruaidh, agus thubhairt an righ, gur e duine fiadhaich, tapaidh a bh'ann, air an robh e fairtleachdainn orra greim a dheanamh.

"Ma gheibh mise m-iarratus uat a righ," ars' MacCailean, "bheir mi dhuit air laimh e." Gheall an righ sud dha.

Dar a thainig an latha chaidh a chur air leth dh'fhalbh Eachainn Ruadh seachad air an aite anns an robh an righ agus MacCailean a gabhail seideag do ghaoth na maduinn. Rinn e ball direach orra, agus chaidh e air a ghlun air beulabh 'n righ. Rug an righ air a laimh gu thogail. Theannaich Eachainn lamh an righ; dh-eirich e agus dh'fhalbh e, agus dar a dh'fhalbh, sheall an righ a laimh do MhacCailean, agus an fhuil a bruchdadh a mach air barran a mheoir.

"Car son nach da chum thu e," arsa MacCailean.

"Cha robh duine 's an rioghachd a chumadh an duine ud," ars' an righ.

"Ma tha sud agad Eachainn Ruadh, 's feumaidh mise m'iarratus fhaighinn a nis," arsa MacCailean,

"Gheibh thu sin, choisinn thu i, ciod i?" ars' an righ.

"Gum faigh Eachainn Ruadh a shìth," arsa MacCailean; 's fhuair Eachainn Ruadh a shìth.

Ghabh an righ a leithid da thlachd a neart 'us tapachd Eachainn Ruaidh, 's gun robh e ro dheonach gum biodh e na fhear dheth a bhuidhinn dion fhein, ach ghabh Eachainn leisgeul, a nise dar a fhuair e shìth, gun robh moran aige ri chur an ordugh aig a bhaile; ach gheall e bhi dol an drasda sa rithisd, a mach, a Dhun-eidin, a choimhead air an righ.

Bhiodh Eachainn Ruadh mar a gheall e a dol a mach a choimhead air an righ. Bha piuthar da dh' Eachainn Ruadh-nighean tighearna Bhrathainn-posd' aig Iain Dubh MacRuairaidh, an Leodach a bh ann an Gairloch a comhnuidh anns an t-seana chaisteal a bha anns an Dun aig ceann a deas na Gaineamhiche Moire. Bha atharrachadh air choir-eigin ri dheanamh air coraichean na h-oighreachd. Uair dheth na h-uairean, dar a bha Eachainn Ruadh a dol a Dhun-eiden a choimhead air an righ, thug Iain Dubh dha na coraichean gu'm faighinn air an atharrachadh, 's rinn Eachainn Ruadh rud-eigin cosgais ris na coraichean.

'S i nighean an t-Siosalaich bu bhean dligheach da dh-Eachainn, agus bha mac aige rithe dha'm b'ainm Iain. Chaidh a thogail ann an Strathghlais, ann an tigh an t-Siosalaich, agus air an aobhar sin ghoirte Iain Glasach dheth. Chaochail e ann an Caisteal Eilean-Donnain, ann an Ceanntaile, agus chur. na Tailich a chorp gu muinntir Strath-ghlais, agus dh-adhlaic iads' e ann an Eaglais mhor na Manachain. Dh-fhag e aon mhac dha 'm b'ainm Iain, ris an canadh iad, anns an duthaich, Iain Ruadh Mac Iain Ghlasaich. Chaidh an gille og so a thogail aig Domhnullach, a bha na pheathair, ann an Glais-leitir Cheanntaile, ris an abradh iad, Iain Liath. Agus tha e air a radh, gun da phos mathair Iain Ruaidh (bann-* trach Iain Ghlasaich) tighearna Mhic-aoidh.

Dh-fhas Iain Ruadh na ghille mor, tapaidh, agus dar a thainig e gu aois cuid fir, thug e duthaich Mhic-aoidh air, a choimhead air a mhathair. Air ruighinn tigh Mhic-aoidh dha, cha da leig e ris co e, 's cha mlo leig a mhathair. Bha e mar chleachdadh a nuair sin nach foinnichte ri coigrich 's am bith a thogradh fuireach an tigh duin' uasail, co iad, no co as a thainig iad, ach am biodh iad latha 's bliadhna 'stigh. Bha dà chu ro-ainnidh, aig Macaoidh-fear dhiubh air an robh "Cu-dubh," agus air an fhear eile "Faolag" mar ainm. Agus bhiodh Iain Ruadh an comhnuidh a falbh leo anns a mhonadh 's a sealg. Bhiodh e toir a bhèdh, a bhiodh e toir na mhonadh air a shon fein, dha na coin. Dh-fhas, mar so, na coin cho measail air, 's nach leanadh iad duine ach e fhein. 'S ann anns cheann shios-ceann nan seirbhiseach-dheth an tigh a bha e cadal agus a gabhail a bhèdh.

Bha bhliadhna 'tarruing gu ceann, agus latha dheth na lathaichean, thubhairt Mac-aoidh ri mhnaoi, gun robh e cuir umhail gur e mac duin'uasail a bh' ann, agus air dha so a chantuinn rithe, shil a suilean gu frasach. Thug Mac-aoidh an aire dhi. "An ann mar so a tha," ars esa, 's e toir achmhasan caoin di, "cha bhiodh e cuide ri ma chuidsa seirbhiseach, nam biodh fhios agam, mar a bh' agadsa, gu'm be sud aon mhac Iain Ghlasaich." Dh-orduich e 'n sin gu bhord fhein e, 's bha e cuide riu fhein fhad sa bha e 's an tigh, ach ma dheireadh arsa Mac-aoidh,