PAGAN RITES IN HIGHLANDS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10824, 18 July 1913, Page 2

PAGAN RITES IN HIGHLANDS.

OFFERINGS TO A SEA-GOD.

One does not usually look for romance in a Blue Book, but thoio is plenty in the final report of the Crofters' Commission. A curious application made to the Commissioners was one for tho resumption of a small area of croft land at Eoropie. near tho Butt of Lewis, for tho purpose of carrying out repairs and alterations on tho old ecclesiastical building known as Mael-dubh's Temple, locally referred to as Toampull Mliaol'uibh. Tho temple, it is believed, was •used as a- placo of Christian woiship in post-Columbian times, but after the Reformation strange rites and ceremonies were performed within its wails down to the eighteenth century. At a certain season of tho year tho inhabitants assembled at the seashore not far from tho temple, and wading in tho water, mado offerings to a seagod named Shony, and at tho gam© time invoked him to send a plentiful supply of sea-ware. After making the offerings to Shony the people returned to tho roofless walls ot Mael-dubh s Temple, where they held high revels for the night. The temple was also resorted to as a shrine tor tho cure of persons mentally afflicted. Tho afflicted person was first brought to Maeldubh's well, in the near neighbourhood, and made to drink of its waters. Thereafter ho was led three times sunwiso round the temple. He. was then led insido and laid down on the floor m front, of tho altar, with his head on tho saint's stono pillow, which had for long been kept within the building. lie was bound hand and foot, and was confined in that position till morning. It lie was not cured by tho time ho was released from his bonds in the morning his case was considered as hopeless. The offerings to Shony and the succeeding revels have been discontinued long ago, but the rites and ceremonies in connection with the mentally deranged were carried on till comparative lv recent times. Tho walls of the temple are in a state of good preservation hut it lias been roofless for generations. Bv arrangement with the proprietor, tlie Scottish Episcopal Church proposes i o restore the temple as a \ place of Christian worship.