220 Collectanea.
She sings in a subdued tone, and with the appearance of sadness —
" Broken-hearted, I wander at the thought of my love, He 's a jolly, jolly sailor and to the war he 's gone. If I had the wings of angels I would know where to fly, Over hills and valleys where my true love did die."
Those in the ring now let go each other's hands and commence hand-clapping, shouting the while —
" Hurrah for the pots and pans,
Hurrah for the man that made them. Hurrah for the pots and pans, I wish the war was over."
HEN AND CHICKENS. (P. 132, at bottom of the page.)
In North Uist the above game is called " Cearc 'us iseanan,"^ and the " Madadh ruadh" is addressed by the 'hen,' "De tha thu ag iarruidh an diugh," to which he replies, " Tha mi ag iarruidh te dheth na iseanan," and the hen's reply is, " Cha'n fhaigh thu sin an diugh." (What are you seeking to-day ?/I am seeking one of the young birds./You won't get that to-day.)
It is also played in Lorn under the name of " Cripple Chirsty." Chirsty comes limping forward leaning on a stick, and the hen addresses her, " Hey, Cripple Chirsty, what do you want with me to-day?" "A beck and a bow and I would thank you for your eldest daughter." The hen gives her the curtsey and bow, but refuses to give up her eldest daughter, and then the attack is made, the game going on as described above.
When the game is played as " Fox and Sheep," the usual formula recited by the latter at Ardrishaig was " Da roan, da roan, da roan, da ring, thig am madadh ruadh am maireach agus bheir e leis a' chaor is fearr tha againn." (Da roan, da ring, the fox will come to-morrow and he will take with him the best sheep we have.)
When played as " The Theft of the Kids " (Goid nam meann), the leader of the 'kids' is called the "Fiadh" (deer), and it is a 'wolf (madadh alluidh) which comes stealthily glancing along
