Sketcber. Prophecies by a Highland Seer.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1982, 21 March 1885, Page 2 (Supplement)

Sketcber. Prophecies by a Highland Seer.

(CONriN'DI p) Along tho said roada the seer beheld innumerable travelling merchants passing to and fro. I confess I thought such " merchants " belonged to a bjgone age, but I was reminded of the prophetic words this autumn when, halting at a roadside inn, the landlord, commenting on the various changes of the last twenty years, noted as a speoul feature the extraordinary increase of all manner of hawkers and pedlers. This he said without the slightest reference to the well-known prophccf. The seer, whose mystic words have been co carefully preserved, was born in the early part of the seventeenth century (a few years before tho Common wealth). The name ho bore — Kenneth Mackenzie — is one common to many members of the clan which claims decent from Coinneach Mac Choinnich, i.e. Kenneth the son of Kenneth. His birthplace was on the estate of Brahan Castle, in tho county of Rops-shire, the property of the Maokenzies of Seaforth. Hi* social position was that of a farm-servant, and many a shaft of his caustic wit was sped at the expense of the farmer's wife, a crossgrained, ill-natured woman, who at length delprmined to free herself from the annoyance of his, jests by causing his dettb. Accordingly, j one day, when hia master had sent young Kenneth Mackenzie to the moorland to cut poats foi 1 fuel, and she had to send him his diuner, she seasoned it with poisonouo herbs, and trusted never again to hear his voice. But Coinnrach, being weary, had lain down to rest on a little knoll — doubtlees a faiiies' hill, for when he awakened ho found under his head a MEall white stone with a hole in the centre, such as a Highlander would at onoe locognise as a mystics divining stone. (According to one acount, the seer derived his knowledge from a small round blue pebble, which had been bestowed on hia mother by the spirit of a Norwegian princess, who had left her grave one night, to revisit Norway, and, ere returning, gavo this gift to the bravo Highland-woman whom Bhe found watching beside her empty tomb, and who even dared to bar the entrance of the dead by placing her distaff upon the grave. Picking up the pebble, he naturally applied it to his eye, and thereby discovered the treachery planned by hia mistress. So when the messenger brought his dinner, he gave it to a poor dog, who swallowed it trustingly, but afterwards died in agony. Then Kenneth returned to taunt the cruel woman with her evil intentions. From that time forward his fame as a neer spread far and wide, and many a strange foreboding of evil did he venture to utter concerning county families, then in the zenith of their power, and strangely indeed have these been fulfilled. For instance, concerning the powerful family of Mackenzie of Bosebaugh, he foretold their downfall when •• Foolish James" should be laird ; and through senseless piidc 1 the goat should replace the deer, and fisherman of Avoch rule over the Black hie The present generation baa seen the fulfilment of these enigmatical words (with various details of local interest), for the career of folly of the last Sir James necessitated the sale of his lands on the Black Isle co Mr. Jack, the son of an Avoch fisherman, who, by marriage with the Fletchers, assumed their name and armorial bearings, with the goat at a crett. Thus the famous dcer'x-head of the Mackenzie* is replaced by the goat of the Fletchers ! Among the families concerning whom Coinneach prophesied evil things were the Urquharts of Cromarty, who in his day were possessed of large estates in the north. He foretold that ere long they would ovm but a few notes ;and so it as proved, for a small corner of Braelangwell, one of their many possessions, is all that now remains in the hands of the family. Strangely accurate was the forecast of the downfall of the once mighty house of MacNeil of Barra. " When the blind vianwith tioentyfour fingers and the Sheriff« officer with the bin thumbs shall meet in Barra, then viay Marneil prepare for the flitting." Early in the present century a celebrated blind beggar, having six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each foot (who hence was known in Gaelic as " the blind, with twenty-four fingerß "), started on a begging expedition through the Long Isle. Besolving to cross the six miles of sea which separate South Uist from Barra, and then try his fortune, he took his place in the ferry-boat, and had for fellow-passenger a sheriff's officer, whose Gaelio nickname described him as" the man with the b<g thumbs." This man's errand was actually to serve a summons on MaoNeil of B&rra, who thereupon was oompelled to " flit," and make way for the now owner of his estates. Very remarkable was the fulfilment of several details of the old prophecy referring to the Macleods of Maoleod, as recorded by the veteran and greatly revered Dr. Norman Macleod father of the founder of Good Words and of its present editor. He was a true Gael, nurtured in the use of the Gaelic tongue, and familiar with all the tales and traditions current among bis people. Amongst others, ho was well aware of the prophecy which foretold troublous times for the house of Dunvegan, aud amongst othor signs of tho times enumerated how " Norman, the third Norman, iconbl pcrith by an accidental death ; that Macleod's Maidens " (three noted rocks in Macleod's County in tho Isle of Skye) " would become the property of a Campbell ; that a fox should have a litter in ono of the turrets of the castle ; that, when for the last time the green fairy banner should be seen, the glory of the house should depart, and most of the estates must be sold. Nevertheless, hope dawns on the future, for a deliverer shall arise whvi shall redeem the lost lands." Strange to say, when, in the year 170!), Dr. Macleod was a guest at Dun vegan Castlo, three oi these signs were fulfilled. Tidings arrived that H.M.S. " Queen Charlotto " had been blown up at sea, and among those who I perilled was laieut. Maoleod of Maolood—

"Norman, the third Norman," heir of the house. la that parno week, "Macleod's Maidens" weu 1 sold to Angus Cdrnplvll of Eneey. And, furthermore, a tame fox, belonpintf to Lieut. Mrtcleou, actually had liei litfcpr in the went tuiret of the castle, wild the Doctor handled the young cubs I Happily there hno immediate prospect of the fulfilment of the fourth Bißn, for though the good old Doctor could only get a sight of the green banner by stealth, and very naturally (being a genuine Highlander) looked on it with something of a quake, lest he might himself be fulfilling the prophecy, the green flag bestowed on Macleod by hia fairy love 13 still to be seen at Dunvegan by all persons interested in suoh relios. The birth of the fox-puppies recalls a similar prophecy, as yet unfulfilled, to the effect that a fox shall one day rear her cubs on the hearth-stone of Castle Downie. But far more improbable was young Kenneth's forecast concerning Fairburn Tower, a stronghold of the Earls of Seaforth, overlooking their lands of Brahan, and inhabited by a branch of the Mackenzies, kinsmen of the chief. The eyes of the Beer, however, looked far beyond the present scene, and he spoke unflattering words, revealing a future when the broad lands of th« family should pass into the hands of strangers, when few should survive to bear the once powerful name, and when a cow sltould give birth to a calf in the highest chamber of Fairburn Towei ! The laat item certainly appeared a crowning dream of folly, yet, strange to say, all has been literally fulhlled. Ah years rolled on, the estates did pass away from the old family, and the old castlo, which was wont to echo the song of the bard and the music of the pipes, wag shadowed, and allowed to fall into decay. All was dilapidated. The doors fell from their hinges, until not one remained to bar the progress of man or beast. Then the tenant farmer bethought him of using tne uppermost rooms as a barn wherein to store his straw, and as the straw was carried up some was accidentally scattered on the staircase. This attracted the notice of a cow who had strayed into the open hall, and, enticed by such good pickings, she climbed step by step, till she actually reached the topmost room. {To be Continued.)