568 "TAILLEAR DUBH NA TUAIGHE." MacDonald MacEwen; the birth of Allan MacIanduy, his successor, and the appointment of tutors; but we must allow some years to elapse, for the tyranny and designs of the tutors to take effect. It looks, indeed, as if we could actually determine the year when these came to a height and were frustrated, viz., 1576., ie., there was an interval of ten years, or nearly as many, during which these tutors were in power; for in 1576, as may be inferred from the record, a prominent member of the Clan, Donald MacEwen, was put to death. * If we may hold with the author of the " Introduction" that the name of one of the tutors was Donald-and we have seen that he was probably correct in that particular-then, this Donald MacEwen of the records was none other than the tutor, Donald, the son of Ewen Alanson, by Marjory Mackintosh. We also know who his slayers were, for the event had excited the interest of the Earls of Argyll and Athole-themselves, a short time before, at feudand in connection with the action of these magnates, the whole story can be unravelled in the records of Privy Council. The perpetrators of the slaughter were Allastir Dow MacAllan MacIan "of Camroun, and John Cam, his broder of surnawm," + whom we may identify with "Allastir Dow MacAllane Vc. Eane of Culchinny," and "Johnne Mor MacAllane Vc. Eane of Callardy," of a considerably later entry.§ The same passage in the records which misled Gregory seems also to have misled the author of the "Introduction," ¶ for whereas the former found in it the murder of a Chief, which probably never happened, the latter evidently found in it, and with a better excuse and greater show of probability, the assassination of Donald MacEwen Beg, for which also there seems to be no foundation, except in this misReg. Privy Council vol. ii., 597. * + The "Introduction" may or may not be right in styling him Donald MacEwen of Eracht, for it is possible that he was succeeded in Eracht by Mac Vc. Ewen, the progenitor of that family, since so highly distinguished. Reg. of Privy Conncil, vol. ii., p. 587-8, &c. In the Reg. it is Allaster Dow MacAllane MacEwin--but we should read as above, for he appears by his father's brother, "Ewen MacAne," captain of Inverlochy. Reg of Privy Council, vol v., p. 498 (year 1598). That the author was largely guided by these records appears from his preface: "I have written to Bishop Keith and to Macfarlane to search the records for what they can find, relating either to Sir Ewen or his predecessors. I myself have searched those of the Privy Council."-Preface, xliii-iv. take. Closely scanned, the passage itself shows, that as it does. not record the death of Donald MacDonald MacEwen, the Chief, so neither does it register the fate of Donald MacEwen Beg;* for it speaks of the brothers of the dead man-a phrase which cannot apply to Donald MacEwen Beg, who had no brother. Then, the records clearly indicate that the perpetrators of the deed, Allaster Dow and John Cam, were befriended by Argyll, who succeeded in getting them out of Athole's hands; and that they were the partizans, and not the adversaries, of Donald MacEwen Beg. Besides, the "Introduction" states that Allan, the young Chief, was about seventeen years of age when he returned to Lochaber, and that it was after his return that "he gave way to the death" of Donald MacEwen Beg, whereas at the death of this other personage, Allan would be about ten years old. This point, however, does not depend on minute criticism. Allan MacIanduy had, in the meantime, been confided to the care of his relative, Mr John Cameron, the minister of Dunoon and Kilmun, in Cowal. Thither, also, we find Donald MacEwen Beg following him about this time-a fact which was unknown to the author of the "Introduction." The Earls of Argyll and Athole having made up their feud, bonds of assurance and friendship were signed in favour of each other, by these lords, at Dunoon and Dunkeld, respectively. That which was subscribed by Argyll bears date: "at Dunnone, the xx day of Julii, the year of God, 1576 years," and is attested "before thir witnesses, Donald MacEwen Vc Oneill, in Lochaber," and others.§ It may be affirmed, that there was no prominent member of the Clan Cameron to whom that designation applied, at the time, except Donald MacEwen Beg. That was in July 1576, six months, it is true, before the date of the entry which * Holyrood, 1576/7, 24th Feb. Mr Andro Abercrumby, servitor of Johnne Earl of Athole, presented in his master's name Allistar Dow MacAllane MacEwin Camroun and Johnne Cam his brother, and also produced letters raised by the brothers and other friends of the late Donald Dow MacKewin, by which the said Allistar and Johnne were denounced for the slaughter of the said Donald."-Reg. of Privy Council, vol. ii., 579. + Reg. of Privy Council, vol. ii., pp. 587, 588, 597, 660, 663. ‡ Author's Introduction to the Memoirs of Sir Ewen Cameron of Lochiel, p. 37. § It was not unusual for the Lowland scribe to write the Gaelic for MacDonald in this way, e.g., one out of many, Angus MacDonald, of Dunyveg, appears as Angus Mack Oneill.-History of King James the Sext, pp. 217-330. records the slaughter of Donald MacKewin (26th Feb., 1577). But his slayers had been imprisoned by Athole "certain months syne," as they complained, before the beginning of February, 1577; and they had been at the horn before they had been caught and imprisoned by Athole +-facts which pretty well exhaust the interval of six months, and point to the conclusion, not that Donald MacEwen Beg, who witnessed Argyll's bond at Dunoon in the previous July, had hurried back to Lochaber, and was put to death as soon as he arrived; but that on the slaughter of the one tutor, Donald MacKewin, at Inverlochy, and the escape of the other, he had proceeded to Dunoon, where young Lochiel and the Earl of Argyll were to be found. The author of the "Introduction" relates that when the first tutor had been put to death, it was by Donald MacEwen Beg's intercession with Argyll, that the second tutor, John of Kinlochiel, was brought to execution. One other document strengthens this view if, indeed, it does not decide the point. A bond of maintenance, by Angus Macdonald of Dunyveg to Ninian Bannatyne of Kames (in Bute, and separated from Cowal by the Kyles of Bute), was subscribed on the 16th May, 1577, "before these witnesses, Donald Cameron of Lochaber," and others. That, at least, was posterior to the slaughter of "Donald MacKewin." It cannot be said, for certain, that the "Donald Cameron of Lochaber," who witnessed this deed at Kames in May, 1577, was identical with "Donald MacEwen Vc. Coneill in Lochaber," who witnessed a similar deed, at Dunoon, in July of the previous year, but there is a high degree of probability that he was. On the one hand, there is no clue to any other to whom the designation can be applied; while, on the other hand, "Donald Cameron of Lochaber" has just that touch of indefiniteness, and importance of position in the Clan, at the time, that would accurately describe him. The probability is that Donald MacEwen Beg, had again visited Dunoon and Cowal, where young Allan still resided, on affairs connected with the Clan. Now, although the "Introduction" makes no allusion to his presence in Cowal, we have traced him thither, apparently in the course of two successive summers, those, viz., of 1576 and 1577. And as Allan did not return from Dunoon till he was about 17 years of age, ie., till say + Reg. of Privy Council, vol. ii. 537-8. 1583, it is probable that Donald MacEwen Beg was in that neighbourhood on other occasions, of which no record exists. Of him, however, under that name, no reminiscence has been preserved to our time, in Cowal; there nothing is known of him any more than on Speyside, while, on the other hand, the memory of Taillear Dubh na Tuaighe or Donald Dubh of Lochiel, has been warmly cherished by his descendants in Cowal, down to the present generation. Of his ultimate escape from Lochaber, nothing need be said for the present. So far, then, the case stands thus. Beyond Lochaber, there are two localities, and only two, in which a steadfast, living tradition regarding Taillear Dubh na Tuaighe, together with a persistent claim of descent from him, has been preserved. In both districts, there is independent evidence of the presence of Donald MacEwen Beg. The tradition of Lochaber identifies him with the Taillear Dubh. The traditions of all three localities lead up to much the same period. The reader must be left to judge whether there be two Richmonds in the field, or whether we have here one and the same man, in different guises, according as he was known to the scribes, or as he was known by the people. (To be continued.) TO THE READER.—The present number completes our ninth annual volume, a period of existence not vouchsafed to any preceding Celtic publication, in any shape, Gaelic or English. The Highlander lived for eight years as a weekly newspaper, and five numbers of it appeared as a monthly periodical. The Gael continued, at more or less regular intervals, for six years. The Teachdaire Gaidhealach, and Cuairtear nan Gleann lived each for two years; the Teachdaire Ur Gaidhealach for seven months; Bratach na Firinn for about two years. The Highland Pioneer, the Glasgow Highlander, and the Highland Echo, had each a very short and precarious existence. Not less than six of these died or were killed since we started the Celtic Magazine. Not a few of them attempted to kick us aside, but we are still alive, alone in our glory, more prosperous and influential than at any previous period of our history; thanks mainly to our kind contributors and other good friends. It is unnecessary to say that we shall make every effort in future to deserve even greater success than we have yet attained, and to secure the continued patronage and good-will of our Highland countrymen at home and abroad. .572 HIGHLAND LAND LAW REFORM CONFERENCE AT DINGWALL. AT Dingwall, on the 2nd September 1884, in a conference of delegates from branches of the Highland Land Law Reform Associations of Ross, Inverness, Argyle, and Sutherland shires, and from Edinburgh, London, &c., Dr J. B. Clark, Chairman of the London Highland Land Law Reform Association, was, on the motion of Mr J. Macgilchrist Ross, Teaninich, called upon to preside. Donald Murray, London; Mr Walker, South Uist (in Gaelic); John Macpherson, Glendale (in Gaelic); John Mackay, C.E., Hereford; the Rev. John Mactavish, Inverness; Neil Macneil, Tiree; Michael Buchanan, Barra; the Rev. Mr Cumming, Melness, D. Macfarlane, M.P., and Dean of Guild Mackenzie, Inverness, addressed the meeting, expressing their views on the objects of the conference, whereupon Mr Dugald Cowan, Edinburgh, moved, and it was unanimously agreed that, in the opinion of this conference, the condition of the Highlands and Islands, as detailed in the Report of the Royal Commission (Highlands and Islands), and the eviction, and threatened eviction, of crofters and cottars, necessitates :— The introduction of a Bill, on the re-assembling of Parliament, applying to the districts embraced in the Royal Commissioners' inquiry, suspending the power now possessed by landlords of evicting crofters and cottars from their holdings and dwellings. Dean of Guild Mackenzie, Inverness, moved, seconded by Mr Samuel Maclaren, merchant, Leith, and it was agreed to, that this conference expresses its thanks to the Prime Minister for the declaration in his speech of Saturday last of his intention to give earnest and sympathetic consideration to the condition of the Highland peasantry, but while approving generally of many of the proposals contained in the Crofter Commission Report, considers that alone these do not meet the wants of the people, and desires that these should be supplemented and amended. This was done as follows: On the motion of Mr Ross, Teaninich, seconded by the Rev. Mr Maccallum, Rousay, Orkney, and agreed to, that, at the earliest possible date, a measure be introduced establishing a Land Court with judicial and administrative functions for the aforesaid district, with powers as between crofters and cottars on the one part, and landlords on the other. That the Land Courts should determine what are fair rents. On the motion of Dean of Guild Mackenzie, seconded by the Rev. John Mactavish, Inverness, and agreed to That all tenants of holdings shall have a Durable Tenure; which means that they shall not be subject to removal so long as the fair rents fixed by the Land Court are paid, and the conditions of their tenancies fulfilled. It was agreed that all tenants of holdings shall have the right of Free Sale of their tenant right, the buyer of a tenant right being entitled to all the rights and privileges, and subject to the same conditions as the seller. |