The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1824-07-22
Tradition Of the Western Highlands.
THE rAlUIFlRN.


'Ehc last time the i'aishcrm was perform
cd III the Highlands, was ia the Island of
Null, in the bciTiing OF the seventeenth CEN
ulry, and the place is still well known to the
nhabitants. Allan Maclcan, commonly styl-
cd Allan Mac Echan (son of fIcctor) was the
protector of the sc hnrlid rites and he was
joincd by l.achlan Maclean, otherwise de
nominated l.achlan Ger (Aun L.achan.)
They were men Of rcsolutc and determined
characters, and both Young and unmar-
rlcd
Ihc institution was no doubt OF pagan oii-
gin, and was Il sacrifice offered to the Evil
Spirit, III return for which the votaries
were entitled to demand two boons. The
idea entertained of it at the time must have
been dreadful, s it is still often quoted for the
purpose of terrifying the young and Crcdu-
lous. The sacrifice consisted Of living cats
roasted on Il spit while life remained, and
when the animal expired, another was put on
in it, place
This operation was continued for four
days and nights, without tasting food The
laighcrim commenced at midnight, between
Friday and Saturday, and had not long pro
ccctiet, when Internal SPIRITS being to enter
the house or barn in which it was performing.
III the form of black cats. The first cat that
entered, aticr dartiny furious lock at the
operator, said "Luchiah Ocr, thoN son NJ
Vel, th0f is but HSagc nfu cat.' .Allan, who
superintendent asmaStcr Of The rites, cauticn-
cd Lao hltn, that Whatever he should hear or
see, he must continue to turn the spit and
this WAS done accordingly. The cats con-
tinucd TO enter, and tie yell, OF Tie cat on the
spit, ioined b! the rest, were tremendous.
\ cat ofenpfmous size At last appeared, and
told Lachan Ger that fine dcoist before his
great cared brother arrived, he n&scr would
behC!d the flCc Of God. I.achan answered.
that If all the devils III hcll came, he wuuld
not finch until his task was concluded. BY
the end Of the fourth day thcrg Was a blacE,
cat at the root of every raftci' ON the roof OF
the barn, and thciryrlls we're distinctly heard
beyond ;hc Sound Of Null i'll Morvcn
The Iaishcrim Was at length fn,hcd, and
the yot,,rie5 were then to demand their due
reward un thc spot where the rites were per-
formed. Milan was agitated BY the fearful
sights h. had witnessed, and made use of two
words meaning wealth. Lachlan, whothough
the Youngest man, had the greatest hrmncss,
and had all his wits about him, askcd progeny
and wealth. and each obtained literally what
he asked.
When Allan was on his death bed and his
pious friend advised him to beware of the
v lies of Satan, he replied, that if Lachlan
Oar, (who was then dcad) and himself were
to have the use Of their arms, they would dc
throne Satan and take up the best births in
his domiliions. When Allan's funeral pro-
crsaion approached the church-yard, the
sceond-sightcd peraons present saw Lachlan
Ger at some distance in full armour, at the
head OF 4 party i'll sable attire, and smell of
sulphur was perceived by all the people.
The stone OF which Clause More, the
hcrccst ot the cala sat, is still cxhabitct, with
/ the mark visible iii small pits on its surface.
The word Iaighcirn may mean :. house OF
arms, Or the yclls Of cats By Il variation Of the
/ accent.
Aliens figure in full armour is cut on the
stones which covers HIS grave and the STORY
of the Iaishelm is always attached to Iii,
name tothis day
Cameron, ct I.oclicl performed til,
Taighcirm some time before this, and wa.
presented witia small silver shoe which va,
tobc put OH the left foot OF every son born IN
that family and this custom was alway,
continued, until the shoe WAS untortunatcl,
lost when Lochicls house was consumed b,
fire in l7A6. This shoe fitted all Of then
but one; and he afterwards turned his bacl
TO the foe at Muir, having inherited Il larg,
foot by his mother, who WAS Of anothc
race.
' very imperfect account of the Taigh
cirm viii be found iii one OF Sir. Waite
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