Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1858 edition. Excerpt: ... APPENDIX. Note A.--Page 1. CHURCHYARD OF KILMALLIE. Sib Walter Scott, in his notes to Canto III. of the " Lady of the Lake," gives, from the Laird of MacFarlane's MS. a very curious account of the builder of the first church at Kilniallie; "GUle dubh Mac 'Ille ChnamMaich," or "the Black Child, Son of the Bones;" for such, unpronounceable as it appears, is the true designation; and though the story may be familiar to many, we give the substance of it here as connected with the locality. Sir Walter says that the account given in the MS. of this man with the ominous name, suggested to him the idea of Brian, "that monk of savage form and face," who plays such an important part in unveiling the future destiny of the Clan Alpine. The poet, however, is much more indebted to his imagination than to the MS. for the filling up of the sketch; and it is worth mentioning, that the tradition still preserved in the country agrees exactly with the account given by the old Laird, representing the "Gille dubh" as an able and devout man, totally different from the savage seer depicted in the poem. The reason of his obtaining such an uncommon surname was as follows: It chanced on a night long ago, that the young people of Corpach, and of Annat--two neighbouring farms--were, as customary, watching the cattle in the fold. The place was a small hiS a little to the west of the present church, close to the public road, and conspicuous from a clump of Scotch fir covering its summit. It shows some faint traces of having been fortified as a stronghold, and its name, Cnoc-na-faobh, or "the Hill of Spoils," tells of its having been the scene of strife and of bloodshed. At the period in question it was strewn with the bones of the slain, left there to bleach under...
