Читать книгу Literature of the Gaelic Landscape - John Murray - Страница 11

The Uruisgs or Ùruisgean were semi-human creatures associated with deep ravines, waterfalls and moorland lochans. Their name means ‘on water’ - air uisge. William Gillies, who was Minister at Kenmore between 1912 and 1938, collected a Gaelic verse from James MacDiarmid of Morenish (Mòr-innis – Big Meadow), Killin, which lists twelve ùruisgean. As well as forming a detailed inventory of these supernatural beings, the poem can be used to define the sprawling territory of Breadalbane from Ben Dorain, through Crianlarich to Kenmore, but focusing around upper Loch Tay. The verse may also have been used to warn children away from water hazards or more directly, as a compelling and fearsome device for learning about the local landscape character.

‘Peallaidh an Spuit	‘Peallaidh of the spout
Is Brunaidh an Easain,	And Brunaidh of the little waterfall.
Babaidh an Lochain	Babaidh of the little loch
Is Brunaidh an Eilein;	And Brunaidh of the island;
Paderlan a Feàrnan,	Paderlan from Fearnan,
Peadragan, Patragan.	Peadragan, Patragan.
Triubhas-dubh a Fartairchill,	Black Breeks from Fortingall,
Fuath Coire Ghamhnain,	The Spectre of Stirk Corrie,
Cas-Luath Leitir,	Swift Foot of the Slope,
Amhlagan-dubh	Black Amhlagan
Is Catan Ceann-liath,	And Catan Grey Head,
Is Ùruisg dubh mòr Eas Amhlagan.’	And the Big, Black Uruisg.’
	of Amhlagan’s waterfall.’

(author’s translation adapted from Gillies 1938, 341)

The most famous ùruisg was Peallaidh of the Spout. He was King of the ùruisgean and stayed near the Upper Falls of Moness near Aberfeldy. Like Pan he had a shaggy pelt (peall means hairy skin) and hoof-like footprints. Peallaidh gave his name to Aberfeldy, Obar Pheallaidh - the confluence of Peallaidh. He spent his summers at a shieling called Ruighe Pheallaidh (NN633484) in Glenlyon – Gleann Lìobhann. There he left his footprint on a rock in the glen below, Caslorg Pheallaidh outside a farmhouse at Crageny - Creag Eunaidh or Fhiannaidh (NN6274770).

Brunaidh an Easain lived near the Lower Falls of Moness and Brunaidh an Eilein inhabited the Isle of Loch Tay or Priory Island, Eilean nam Ban – Island of the Women (NN766454), just southwest of Kenmore. On the north side of the Loch near Feàrnan, Paderlan is remembered in the name of a corrie and a burn below Meall Greigh (Rounded Hill of the Herd), Coire Phadairlidh (NN687437) and Allt Coire Phadairlidh (NN693430). He stayed by a deep cataract to the west of the village. Cas-luath also lived near Feàrnan in the wood of Letterellan, Leitir Ailein – Allan’s Slope (NN731444) half a mile to the east. Paderlan also frequented another stream much further east near Crianlarich called Allt na Paderlan. Together with Brunaidh an Eilein and Cas-luath, he would waylay folk travelling from Kenmore to the market at Lawers.

Triubhas-dubh lived near Fortingall. Fuath lived further afield, haunting a corrie on Beinn Dorain, Coire Ghamhnan – Corrie of Stirks. Neither of these places can be traced on today’s maps. Likewise, the whereabouts of Babaidh, Catan and Black Amhlagan remain unknown. It is said that the Ùruisgean met annually at Coire na(n) Ùruisgean (NN483077) in the Trossachs below Ben Venue – A’ Bheinn Mheanbh, on the south side of Loch Katrine.

Plate 1: Loch Katrine – Loch Ceiterein from Ben A’an - Am Binnean. Coire na[n] Ùruisgean is the corrie rising from the loch behind the steamboat.

In Neil Gunn’s Young Art and Old Hector, the boy mistakes the bearded and bewhiskered old man for an Ùruisg as he emerges from a mossy cave concealing an illict whisky still.