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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1942-10-08, Page 3THE gSTORTIMB^ABVPCATIg, THURSDAY MORNING, OCTOBER Sth, 1S42 Ivan Colbert Pays Visit to lonely Island while on leave in* England CpI. Ivan Culbert, son ofc. Mr. and Mrs. Myron Culbert, of Bid- dulph writes a most interesting letter of a visit to the Isle of Skye while on a recent leave* He had tea with a gypsy family and visited a hermit’s cabin. the only passenger, and we jogged along the highway once again, Ar­ riving in the village of Dunvegan, I discovered the castle was two miles further on and I had to walk K* I had my trench coat with me so did pot mind sb much. Visits u Gattie ■reaching the castle gates, |l had relations not quite figure choose such a way place for leave, But X told them it was purely fascination, and the thrill of going to a place where very few* Canadians have been and the excitement of not knowing a soul but making new friends and to see new part of the world. Mountains Reach Into Clouds I arrived at the Kyle about 4 p.m, land made for9 the docks, There werp only a handful of people going across and the trip was made in a large motor boat which only took 20 minutes, landing at Kyleakin, Isle of Skye, or commonly known as the “Misty Isle”. How true it is named. The huge funny-shaped 'mountains reach far into the clouds | and at that time ofsday the clouds are even lower. The sun was shin­ ing brightly and the view-was most •distinct, There was a sort of bus waiting for us and we piled in all set foi* a 2-hou-r ride to Portree, the largest town on the island and the capital. I again met up with a native of the there, and could out why I should lonely, out-of-the- isle of Skye, Scotland, I August 16, 1942, My Dear Home-Folks; It wasAaje afternoon on the 11th of August when I was handed my third leave pass for the year. I knew a month ahead that I was go­ ing on leave and planned a trip to Skye accordingly, Now, if you look on your map, this Island is sit­ uated off the north west coast of Scotland, in what is commonly known as the Highlands. Two minutes after I was handed I my pass I was oht of my tent in civilian clothes with my uniform’in. vmy case add necessary kit for nine days, I struck the highway after a few steps' and caught the first bus to the nearest -railway station. From there I proceeded to Seven­ oaks, Kent, where I parked myself for the first night. Up early on | Wednesday morning, I caught the first train to London, and arrived there just in time to catch the train to the north country. The train was crowded with men and women in uniform and civilians going to or from holiday. ■Changing trains at Carlisle, which is just at the mouth of the Solway; Isle and he was most helpful in de­ Firth, I proceeded on to Perth, • scribing the various sights as we which is about 60 miles north of Glasgow, arriving at ten p.m.. The next train for Inverness was due to leave at 1.2Q a.m. and I found myself a-place in the much-crowded coach. One twenty came but the train did not move. I patiently waited two long hours, then made enquiries. They told me’there had been a wreck further up the line-} and they did not know what time j she would pull out. So there was nothing to do but wait-.- The can­ teen opened for the Service men at 3 a.m. and I went in to get a cup of tea. The first thing they asked me was "Are you in the forces—let me see your pass.” I decided the ’best thing to do was to change back into my uniform and found myself- a poorly lit, quiet corner and chang­ ed. In Scotland the sun rises very ear- ly and it is not raining. Anyway daylight came about 4.30 and stillI we -had not -moved. I had no towel or soap with me, but felt very dirty and made the best of it by washing with shaving soap and drying with a handkerchief. Time rolled on very slowly. At last, at 11.2'0* a.m. I felt a movement underneath me and-I knew she was on her way to Inverness. It was a lovely journey through northern Scotland. The sun was half shining and I saw sights throughout the countryside quite different from the many parts of England and Ireland I have visited. * At Inverness Arriving in Inverness at fitfe p.m. I inquired as to trains to the Kyle of Lachalsh, from to the had to wait morning, so in the Y.M.C.A. and after a bite to eat, took a tour about the fair town and found it most interesting. Slept in late Friday morning, but man­ aged to catch my train and was once more into a crowded coach. I met up with a chap who knew the north country fairly well and he was .able to tell me all the important places as we passed along. Several Scotch­ men whom I conversed with en­ route to Inverness asked, when I told them where I was going, if the port I was to sail Isle. They told me I until T 1.45 the next I got myself a room a this ml^ty 1,810. Finally, they ask­ ed me inside and X pulled up a chair, which was a wooden boat. The smell of the place nearly knocked me over, but I stuck it long enough to find out all about the way they lived. I could see two double beds in the place. Guess they sleep in shifts. Their clothes, as you will see from the pictures I took, are almost as old as they are. The children were dirty and without shoes and stockings. But I must say they were most hospitable and it was auite an experience to talk to them. They asked me to have a cup of tea which I could hardly refuse—thought it couldn’t be any. worse than army tea, so the old lady pulled up the table in front of me—a home-made affair, and spread the newspaper table cloth which dated back some months ago, They were very interested when I told them what I knew about the latest war news as they hear very little about present conditions. When t asked them the time of day they laughed and said, “We have never had a clock. We go by the sun, when it shines,” From what I un­ derstand of Highland weather they, would only know the time about twice a year. So taking their pic­ tures, ’and getting an address to send them a copy, I bade farewell and was on my merry way. At Hermit’s Cottage The next stop I made was at one of these old thatched roof cottages, An old lady came to the door and I talked to her a few minutes before she realised X was not a fifth col­ umnist or a Fuller brush man and she asked me inside. When I was satisfied with a good look around I was once again on my way down the winding highway, The -third and last Sunday afternoon call was on old Uncle«Donald. He is a bache­ lor of 63 but looks 20, living in what is known as a block house, high up in the mountains. I was told about this peculiar old man in Portree, but very few people have ever seen him. I was a bit nervous at first about climbing .up to his shack as he has never been away from it in all these years and no one knows where he gets the food he lives on. It was the most funny shaped place I have seen sunk and both ter. I knew he was in as I approach­ ed the muddy ground about the doorway, as smoke was pouring out the dqor. The little dog outside, his only friend, barked as I came near­ er and this aroused old Donald, pausing him to come to the door. I told him I was a Canadian on leave and would like to see his house. He hesitated a moment,, then shook my hand and said, why yes, come in, have .a cup of- tea. That sounded all right until 1 en­ tered the first room and saw the old cow peacefully chewing her cud as chickens flew over my head at the sight of a stranger. We then entered the dining-room, a place about six feet square, no more. The fire smouldered in the centre of the dirt floor and part of the smoke was escaping through a 'hole ; Ip, the roof. There was a chair with , only three good legs, a home-made stable and the rest I just couldn’t figure out. The rain had been com­ ing in and small puddles of water lay on the so-called floor-—not only that, but the water from the guest room, where the livestock lived add­ ed much to the peculiai* odor, again asked me to tea, but I told him some and • did just then. He tory and told fore him had house itself was over Old- He also said Bonnie Prince Charlie hid out there when every­ one was looking for him, remember anything about English history you will know what I mean. A very small room led off of this and that was his bedroom. The bed was made of a few boards with sacks Here’s Quick felief frow SINUS HUN Merficlii© Out Congest^ Area's 0HE best way to get relief from tortur-. ing sinus pain is to .clear congestion #om nasal passages and give sinuses a chance to drain. A few drops of Vipks Va-tro-nol in each nostril & usuaUy^mough to bring this comfort- : .O-roRrosis successful be- : wf-WSOWKNE eause it does three ! On which I learned are never closed, I went on into the castle, it is too years old and has been in the fam­ ily of the MacLeods all these years, Up until this present heir to the place, a Mrs. MacLeod of the Mac­ Leod’s it has always been in male hands. She was not in, unfortun­ ately, but a very fine old gentleman greeted me and showed me as much as he could in the short time I had to spend there. I will not attempt to tell you everything he showed me but will touch on the most in­ teresting things to me. First of all, the entrance to the building, which is itself 'built in three centuries, starting from the 9 th century. There never used to be any doors but just a bridge lead­ ing into a very small slit in the nine-foot wall. You,see, it was used as a fort* during many battles. The other side faces the sea and one can see for miles- the convoy I pass right by me they saw Churchill was on when going to America. He shpwed me an old toasting glass which, of course, is badly broken, as they used to break it each time a toast was made. There are only two in the world like it and I could see part of “God Save the King” inscribed on it. An­ other thing that interested me. was the Fairy Flag, flown in a battle in India years and years ago. The Old legend goes that this flag would be waved three times and each time it would bring luck to the MacLeod clan. The first time it was waved was in India, when their clan became victorious in a great battle. The second time was only a tew years ago, when a fire started in the castle and the flag was removed, for safety to the outside. At the same time the wind changed and saved a large portion of the castle from burn? ing. It has still to be waved a third time. The crest of the MacLeod clan, by the way, is the bull’s head. It seems hundreds of years ago a MacLeod came in contact with a wild bull and was in ther saved th§^ rescue neck. One preserved i castle in the form of a- drinking flask with a marvelous carved sil­ ver brim. This horn holds three pints of whatever they used to drink and before a new heir to the place could call himself a man, he. had to be able to drink this' empty in one swallow. A Bottle-Necked Dungeon. He then opened a huge iron door in the* nine-foot wall and we walk­ ed sideways with the use of a light into what is known as the bottle­ necked dungeon. He dropped a light down to the bottom of it and I looked down some 30-odd feet. They used to'chuck the bad boys in there, put the stone lid on and there are two very heavy stone weights they put on the lid in case they tried to escape. There was a slit about half way down and a small tunnel which ran to the kitchen. This was to allow the smell of food from the kitchen to reach the pris­ oners thus making it all the more horrible for them. Dunvegan 'Castle, catch my bus back to Portree and spent the rest of the day seeing the sights of the town. The majority of the children in the town wear the kilt of their respective Clans and on Sundays the men wear them as well. Sunday morning up early again and off to church at eleven. I went to the Church of Scotland and found the order of service very similar to our own. One great thing I no­ ticed was the large turn-out, espec­ ially of young people. I feel safe in saying I have never been in any church in England where young people attended in as large numbers as they did here in Portree this morning. The minister, Mr. Mac- Kenzie, by name, spent some years in America, preaching, and has al­ so been to Toronto, Montreal, ate. He is actually retired now, but is filling in the present minister’s place as he has been called into the army as a chaplain. < Visits a Gypsy Family It was quite sunny this afternoon, so I borrowed a bicycle and took a circular 12-mile tour Of the surround­ ing countryside, taking pictures as I Went along of Highland cattle .and other1 points of interest. My first stop off for a visit was with a family of tinkers. These are what we know as gypsies, only they do not travel about like our lot do. Their house is built of sticks, grass and canvas, with a fire in the middle, the smoke escaping through a hole in the roof. The particular family I visited, Stewart by name, num­ bered eight, including the mother and father. They do nothing all day and gd scrounging at night for food. It took quite a while to get acquainted With them as they speak mostly Gaelic, as does everyone on over here—one little window deep in the thatched roof one narrow doorway where! he, his cow and chickens en- He have a cup of I had just had care for more me his life his- ■ important things: (1) shrinks swollen membranes of the noge; (2) helps clear out pain-causing .congestion and (3) soothes irritation, , Many sinus suf- ‘ferers say it’s best WlCKS-pdiy relief they’ve found. Try It! As a matter of fact, came over on would it and the guide told, the boat and escort not told me his parents be- Jived there and the 200 years If you used as bedding. Honestly, I do not know how the man ever survives in such filth and dampness. I had quite a job to get away as I was the first Canadian he had ever seen and apparently the first visitor in a long time, He spoke very good English and I’m sure if he had a. bath he would find two or three shirts underneath it all, I finally (Continued on Page Six) . I' ** .* y jogged along the one and only high­ way. As we rode along, winding in and out of the mountains, it came to me that this must-be like a spider’s version amongst a thousand ant hills. . Primitive Farming Methods j. Swift-flowing streams could be seen falling over the rugged stones down the mountain sides and much to my amazement there is hardly a tree on the whole island. Just a few around the scattered houses or near the few and far between vil- carried out on The largest one Their methods The hay which cut is done by little individual stacks in the field and when they want to use it, it is carried in by ropes on the backs of the farmer or his hard-worked wife. Skye men, by the way, have, the idea that to­ morrow will do/ very slow and steady, but they -are' -all a bonnie lot and have treated me very well. There are a few modern houses throughout the Isle. I mean some odd hundred years old and all of stone of different shapes and sizes. Most of them are comprised of two or three rooms at the most. The greater majority of the bouses are thatched with wire overstrung and large stones hung on the end to keep the wind from blowing -the roof off. Sheep are raised in large numbers and can be seen high up on the mountainside.' The next thing I noticed was the color of the water.*. Even the drinking water is the same—a very dark brown, caused by the peat bogs. Feat is their only fuel and a very good, heat it produces at that. It is dug from the ground in cakes and piled on the side of the highway and drawn to their various homes to dry. I might say no spaces, heather, council can help himself to the peat or pas­ ture for the cattle and sheep. There are no fences, but the animals seem to know enough to stay within a- certain radius of their dwelling. On the bus an old man sat in front of me and as we drove along I beard what I thought was him blowing his nose, but the second time I heard it, I realized it the horn on the bus, warning sheep to take cover. Good Eats at POrtree At last we reached Portree, the whole village, it seemed, lages. Farming is a very small scale, is about 10 acres, are most primitive, 'is just now being hand,- piled in Backache-Kidneys Cry for Help Most people fail to recognize the seriousness of a bad back. f The Stitches, twitches, hud twinges ate bad enough and cause great suf* foring, but back of the backache and the cause of it all is the dis­ ordered kidneys crying out a Warn­ ing through the back. A pain in the back is the kidneys’ cry for help, Go to their assistance. Get a box of Doan’s Kidney Pills, A remedy for backache and sick kidneys. "Doan’s” are put up m an oblong grey box with our trade mark a t( Maple Loaf” on the Wrapper. .Refuse substitutes. Get(‘ Doan’s. ” The T, Mnburn Co., Ltd., Toronto, Ont. one man ‘ owns these open which are one mass- of hut they are owned by the and anyone and everyone was the add had turned out to see who had arrived on the bus. Of course, With Canada on my shoulder, I caused much ex­ citement and they all staked at me Ss if I were an animal escaped from the Stay. was thd nbW. very charming- lady, quoted me the prices, and I was quite pleased, so placed my belongings in my room and sat down to the first meal for the day. Much to my-surprise I had two eggs, salad and heather honey in the comb. I thought those days had gone forever, but there does not seem to be a shortage here. Yes, even real butter and. lots of it, too. The next day was .Saturday, up bright and early to find it raining. They say it only rains once in Skye, and that is all the time. I made in­ quiries and found out there-was an old castle in the village gan, some 25 miles away, runs out. to the village the morning and returns once a day only and none on Sun­ day. Respite the rain I got aboard, zoo. Now to find a place to The first place «I went into filled up with people, so I tried Portree hotel and here I am Mrs. Robertson in charge, a Of Dunve- The bus at ten in by 2 p.m, I . great danger. -His 'bro- his life by coming to and broke the bull’s of the huge horns was and now rests in the. So much for I managed to « 4 Tm glad I live in Canada. My family is safe here. There is no Gestapo, no hunger, no brutal aggression. I have a good job, and I am free, and unafraid. “In many lands, the people have been robbed and beaten, their money and possessions forcibly taken from them. Here in my country, I can lend my money and know that it is safe, backed . by all the resources of Canada, and that I will get interest on it, too. I am gladly doing without some things so as to be ready to lend every dollar I can to the country that has been so good to me and my family.” Every dollar you lend to Canada helps to protect you • • gives you the right to work in personal freedom instead of under brutal dictators ... enables you to live your own life, for yourself and your loved ones. Victory Bonds ate a good way to save * * < this country has always paid back every penny loaned to it, with interest* Plan now how you can lend your money . . * figure how you can save to lend more. Back up the men who are fighting for your freedom •* ♦ let your self-denial show your loyalty to Canada