a record of his having founded a church in the island. Sir A. Mitchell found in the centre of the island "the remains of a small chapel".[1]
That the local saint succeeded to the rites of a local god seems scarcely doubtful. The name of Maree or Mourie is over all the country-side, always with primitive associations. Sir A. Mitchell, writing in 1860, says: "The people of the place speak often of the god Mourie instead of St. Mourie." An old man in the district told him the island's name "was originally Eilean mo Righ (the Island of my King), or Eilean-a-Mhor-Righ (the Island of the Great King), and that this king was long ago worshipped as a god in the district."[2] Near the head of Loch Maree "is a small well that still bears the name of Tobar Mhoire, or 'Mourie's Well'."[3]
Pennant, in 1774, says of Saint Maree: "The common oath of the country is by his name; if a traveller passes by any of his resting-places, they never neglect to leave an offering; but the saint is so moderate as not to put him to any expense—a stone, a stick, a bit of rag contents him."[4] In a note on this passage Dr. Reeves refers to a place, about two miles from the church of Applecross, " called Suidhe Maree, 'Maelrubha's Seat', which is said to have been a resting-place of the saint."[5] He also mentions a " Suidhe Maree" in the parish of Gairloch. There is a local tradition that his body was translated with miraculous ease from Ferintosh to Applecross, the bearers resting but twice on the way, at a place called Suidhe at Rennlochewe, and at Bealach an tsuidhe, between Shieldag and Applecross. It is tantalising to have no description of these "restingplaces". The usage is identical with the well-known and world-wide savage rite of leaving offerings at appointed places on the way.
Dr. Reeves mentions that, in the Ross-shire parish of
