THE
SCOTTISH JOURNAL
OF
Topography, Antiquities, Traditions,
SOME PARTICULARS REGARDING THE FAMILY OF INVERNAHYLE.
COPIED FROM A MANUSCRIPT IN THE POSSESSION OFDR THOMSON, LATE OF APPIN, BY JOSEPH TRAIN.
ALEXANDER, the first Invernahyle,was son to Allan Stewart,third Laird of Appin. He marriedMargaret Macdonald, daughterof Donald Macdonald of Moidart,commonly called Donulan Lochan.[1] He had only onechild, Donald, who succeeded him. Alexander,it would appear, lived in Island Stalker. Herose early on a summer morning, and steppedover to the Nan Gall,[2] which lies contiguous.He had in his hand a Lochaber axe, which at thatperiod was frequently used instead of the sword.He reclined upon a verdant spot of the isle, withhis Lochaber axe laid carelessly by him. A deadlyfeud existed at that time between his family andthat of Dunstaffnage. A brother of Dunstaffnage,called Cailen Uaine,[3] arrived at the islandwith his barge, and a number of men to assist himin executing his bloody purpose. He landed unperceivedby Alexander. Upon being observed,he assumed the mask of friendship, and was aboutto salute him; but, seeing Alexander defenceless,he cast his eye on the axe, which still lay uponthe ground, and eager to be possessed of thatwhich, if in the hands of the other, might makehim pay dear for his expedition, he hastily graspedit, expressing himself thus—“Sma an tua soAlasdair na on bioda leor sauich innte.”[4] Alexanderquickly replied—“Bheil duil agad nach eilsin innte,”[5] and also laid hold of the axe, beingfully sensible of the spirit of Colin’s remark.During the struggle, Colin’s men surrounded Alexander,and basely murdered him. Donald, hisinfant son, was suckled by Morag, a woman fromMoidart, and wife to Rab a Pheti, the smith ofthat district. Colin, foreseeing that the black deedhe had committed might not pass unrevenged,was very anxious to destroy the child. In this,however, he was disappointed by the prudenceand activity of the faithful nurse, who, with astrength of attachment truly valuable, understandingwhat had happened, regardless of her ownsafety, fled away with the child to her own country.Having informed her husband of the circumstances,they agreed to bring up the child asif he was their own, and to keep the secret of hisparentage concealed from the world, even fromhimself, till a proper time arrived for disclosing it.
Donald was accordingly educated in the familyof Rab a Pheti, the blacksmith. When he acquiredsome strength, he was often called to assisthis supposed father in carrying on his trade. Beingof a strong, athletic make, he performed everytask proposed to him with ease, little thinking hehad any right to be otherwise employed. Oneday, whe