“Ged bu mhath an cala dh’fhàg sinn,
Seachd fearr an cala fhuais sinn.”
[38] “Màrt a threabh mi, màrt a chuir mi, màrt a bhuain mi; Fhir a dh’òrduich na trì màirt, na leig na bheil san ròp’ uamsa.” “Làmh t’athar ’s do sheanar ort, bha feum agad labhairt.”
[39] Gregory’s West Highlands and Islands, p. 285.
[40] Tradition is pretty uniform that Sir Lachlan was killed by the arrow of a little man, and the above is probably only a superstitious version of the real circumstances. The story of powerful warriors, however, struck in the forehead by the arrows of little men, like the stories of Tell and the apple, and Alfred and the cakes, is told of too many persons to be above the suspicion of being a popular myth.
The natives of one of the villages in Tiree are known by the nickname of “Clann Du-shith” and “Sìthbheirean.” The assertion that Du-sìth was the ancient name of Duncan is incorrect, as one of those from whom the village nickname was derived was called Donnchadh mòr mac Dhu-shìth. The little man, who killed Lachunn Mor is also known as an t-ochdarann bodaich, the eighth part measure of a carle.
[41] It is often observable in popular tales that articles of modern use are ascribed to those who lived before their invention. Anachronisms are not heeded in popular lore.
[42] This Dò’il MacJain is probably the Dò’il du beag Innse-ruithe, a celebrated bowman and follower of Cameron of Locheil, and, as his name denotes, a person of small stature, who, according to tradition, shot the arrow that nailed the hand of Big Angus Macian (Aonghas Mòr Mac’ic Eòin) of Ardnamurchan, one of the most stalwart men of his day, to his forehead, in Coir Ospuinn, in Morvern, circ. A.D. 1596. Others say Jain du beag (little black John) was the hunter whose arrow struck the hind. Another (perhaps the same) celebrated Lochaber archer was Jain beag a bhuilg bhàin (little John of the white bag) from Coiruanain.
[43] Several versions of the song will be found in Campbell’s Leabhar na Feinne, p. 198. According to the Skye tradition, the secret of Oisian’s birth was not known till notice was taken of his never eating venison like the rest of the host. On being questioned, he said, “When everyone picks his mother’s shank bone, I will pick my own mother’s slender shank bone.”