Narrows at Eilean Dhuirinnis
Ben Starav
The above two colour photographs are
courtesy of Brigadier John Macfarlane, Taynuilt.
Preface
THIS book was begun
as the work of holidays, and was intended to be read on holidays,
but there is not the less a desire to be correct. The primary object
is to show what is interesting near Loch Etive, and thus add points
of attachment to our country. There is so much that is purely
legendary, that it was thought better to treat the subject in a
manner which may appear preliminary rather than full, going lightly
over a good deal of ground, and, from the very nature of the
collected matter, touching on subjects which may at first appear
childish. It is believed that to most persons the district spoken of
will appear as a newly discovered country, although passed by
numerous tourists. The landing of the Irish Scots has held a very
vague place in our history, and it is interesting to think of them
located on a spot which we can visit and to find an ancient account
of their King's Court, even if it be only a fanciful one written
long after the heroes ceased to live. The connection of Scotland and
Ireland, previous to the Irish invasion, is still less known, and to
see any mention of the events of the period by one who may
reasonably be supposed to have spoken in times which for Scotland
can scarcely be called historic, excited much surprise and interest
in the author of this volume, and it is believed will be pleasing to
those who for the first time read the account of the children of
Uisnach.
These two eras belong
to the earliest notices of our land. The first mentioned has
generally been noticed by historians, but little has been said to
make us think it real. The other has not passed into history, and it
stands at present as our very first account of a connection between
Scotland and Ireland which seems to be authentic, although despised
as belonging only to Bardic legends. The dreamy state in which the
accounts come to us, has led to a desire not to use either the
historic or severely critical style in this volume. In the
discussion relating to places the wish has been to avoid arguments
well known, and as friends have in some cases communicated new ones,
these have been chiefly retained as more interesting. The importance
given in the main legends to Bards and Druids has led the author to
say something of them. It has been his aim whilst beginning with the
more distant allusions native to these lands, to describe, after
frequent visits and investigations, the remains of antiquity of a
pre-historic character as they now appear near Loch Etive,
connecting, by historic theories, the larger body of Celts in Europe
with the people who were the actors in that region. He wishes to
shew that it has required several races to make up the population of
countries called Celtic, judging either from their early history or
from their present condition.
The slightness of the
older materials affected in various ways the mode of treatment, and
it was decided to bring together several persons to represent the
various views. A Highlander, of course, was necessary to skew part
of the ground, but an Irishman was equally required—indeed nearly
all the Celtic literature quoted is Irish. A Lowlander was brought
to give unbiassed opinions, and he brings three of his family to
vary the tone of thought or mode of observation. All, however, take
interest in the district, and are supposed to have given to the
subject some previous attention. A few of the names are spelt in
various ways by writers of good standing, and the author sometimes
thought it well not to confine himself to one form, when it does not
spew any quality that gives it prominence.
Contents
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