Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 17, 1906.djvu/228

 214 Collectanea.

What care we for King George's men, King George's men, King George's men. What care we, etc.

Are ye ready for the battle? Ma theerie an' ma thorie, etc.

Yes, we're ready for the battle. Ma theerie an' ma thorie."

WRESTLING.

(P. 227 after line 17.)

There can be no doubt that in all parts of the Highlands this was a frequent pastime and a test of skill and strength. A match was made " Long Grip " or " Short Grip," and it was also determined beforehand whether "the foot," that is tripping, was to be allowed or not. In the " Long Grip " the opponents caught each other with one hand by the collar of the jacket, the other on his side below his arm. In the " Short Grip " the opponents' arms were round each other's bodies, each having one of his arms above one of his opponent's and the other below. The match was usually for the best of three falls.

As in the case of shinty, wrestling matches seem often to have been set about with a certain amount of preliminary ceremony.

Reic nan Damh. (Selling the Oxen.)

Any number take part in the game. Two are set apart, one to represent the owner of the oxen, the other to be the buying drover; the general company of players are the oxen. The arrangement of these latter is as follows. One sits down on the ground with his legs apart, the second sits between the first's legs with his back turned towards him, and so on till all are seated in a straight row; the owner stands at the head of his oxen. The lad representing the drover, who had with- drawn for a short space, now advances, and is addressed by the owner of the oxen :