Culture Loch Ewe

a panoramic view of loch ewe looking north villages of aultbea, ormiscaig , mellon charles visible along western shore (right-hand side); nato pol depot can seen in foreground, isle of ewe little further out.




a panoramic view of southern end of loch ewe looking southwest, bay loch thurnaig in center of image.


ancient mariner folklore

in compedium of folk , faerie (encounters daoine sìth race) tales of mainland, sir george douglas records ancestral dialogues , mythological apologues of scottish peasantry, , folkish customs employed in recounting them, still linger in remote western islands of barra; where, in long winter nights, people gather in crowds listen whom considered exponents of art. @ earlier date, – still, @ time [in mid twentieth century], within living memory, – custom survived @ poolewe in ross-shire young people used assemble [sic] @ night hear old ones recite tales had learned fore-fathers. here, , @ earlier dates in other parts of country also, demand stories further supplied travelling pedlars, or gaberlunzie men, or pauper wandering musicians , entertainers, or itinerant shoemaker or tailor – whip-the-cat nicknamed, – both of last accustomed travel through thinly-populated country districts, in pursuit of calling, , put night @ farm-houses, – where, whilst plying needles, entertain company stories.

arrival of 1 of these story-tellers in village important event. became known, there rush house lodged, , every available seat – on bench, table, bed, beam, or floor – appropriated. , then, hours – first-rate actor on stage – story-teller hold audience spell-bound. during recitals, emotions of recitor excited, of listeners, @ 1 time on verge of tears, @ give way laughter. there many of these listeners, way, believed firmly in extravangances narrated.

and such rustic scenes these, [will show], have no means been without marked upon scottish literature.

dialect

ross-shire dialect english spoken in red point (nearby gairloch) , poolewe. similar of southern hebridean [harris , barra] dialects. pre-aspiration involves distinct , long h, slight velar friction; though h different x, has more friction, , there exist such pairs bohk buck boc ~bcxk poor bochd. when occlusive palatal, h not affected palatality.