Collectanea. 2 1 9
(P. 235, after line 5.)
Ceangail le d' bhata. (Tying with your walking-stick.)
This was proposed to one, and he was made to put his hands, supposing him to agree, into his trousers' pockets and keep them there until allowed to take them out. A walking-stick, any stick sufficiently long and strong, was passed between his back and his arms. Crouching down, first the one foot and then the other were put over the ends of the staff. One so treated was unable to set himself free until loosed by another, says our correspondent, who had seen it frequently done — which of course pre-supposes the faithful retention of his hands in his trousers' pockets by the subject of the operation.
(P. 235, after line 31.)
A native of Kintyre describes a feat practised in his young days for amusement sometimes, but oftener as a method of punishment in the country school of his earlier educational experiences. He described it as when done for a punishment.
The teacher made two chalk marks on the floor, perhaps three feet apart, and, handing a ruler to the boy to be punished, made him place his toes to one of the chalk marks and bend forward until he placed the end of the ruler at the other. He had then to put his fore and middle finger of each hand on the other end of the ruler and bear his whole weight on his toes and these four fingers, either for a definite time or until he could hold out no longer. In the latter case he was simply allowed to fall.
Tionndadh air a' cheapan. (Turning on the pin,)
The following was described by a Uist man as familiar to him in his youth. The performer took a tether pin — the reciter has seen it done with a barn-door key — and taking hold of the upper end of it with both hands he placed the other end perpendicularly upon the ground, and had then, without removing his hands irom the pin, or lifting the pin from the ground, to turn himself round under his arms.
A feat practised in Kintyre was described as follows : Taking a walking-stick and placing the point of it against his shoulder, the performer stretched his arm. along it to its full
