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THE RUBY DRAGONS by Caitlin McNeill (10 yrs.)

Amber woke up about an hour after they'd fallen. Sako was blowing fire onto a pile of sticks and trying to keep the eggs warm. "I betcha Lily is really worried about you" she said to Sako, who looked really scared and sad. Then she noticed a strange glint. A red glint! Maybe she had not solved the mystery of the strange red glint, she thought. They were in a cave with metal bars blocking the doorway. "Come on, Sako," said Amber. They climbed over some rocks and Amber directed Sako, telling him to melt the bars with his fire breath. The men had obviously over-looked the fact that if they tried to steal dragon eggs, they might end up with a dragon in their cave! It wasn't so easy though because they realized Sako couldn't melt it. Amber saw a tag on the bars saying "Adamantium steel. Unbreakable, unrustable, unmeltable." "Oh, no!" said Amber. The amulet glowed red. "Why don't I ram it down, and maybe it'll come off its hinges?" roared Sako. "Great idea, Sako" said Amber. Sako took four steps back then suddenly flew straight at the bars. They were slightly bent, but showed no sign of falling off their hinges. Sako was lying on the ground, not moving. "Sako!" cried Amber. Sako wasn't one to give up though, so he struggled up and took a few steps back. Then he flew at the bent bars again. This time the bars flew off the hinges and hit off the hill opposite. One of the eggs flew out the rucksack and Amber dived to get it. Although she didn't realize that, below the cave, there was a hole like a moat all the way round. She fell, clinging tightly to the egg, screaming. Sako soon came too her rescue. He flew down and lifted her onto his back. The egg was safe so Amber popped it back into the backpack. "That was close." Said Amber. All of a sudden the same glint they had seen earlier flashed into view briefly and then disappeared. Sako flew down to where the red glint had come from. "Let's go into that cave, because that's were that red glint disappeared to," whispered Amber. They crept cautiously over to the cave. "You stay here, Sako, and look after your eggs," said Amber in a hushed voice. She crept in and then saw something terrible.

Dragons. Caged up, even the babies. In the middle of the cave, AT LEAST 40 EGGS LAY IN A BOWL ALL PRICE TAGGED! "Oh my gosh!" said Amber, astonished. Then a man in a sharp, black suit walked in behind her. Amber, unaware that he was there, said "Sako, go back outside". "Who is Sako? Oh, your dragon friend is in a bit of distress anyway" he replied slyly. As soon as Amber realized it wasn't Sako she spun round. The first thing she saw was the red sunglasses. He looked at the sun. The glasses glinted. The red glint! "Not another red glint," she complained to herself. She ran out to find Sako. She picked up a silvery key, just in case it might be needed. Then she saw something else even more terrible than the eggs.

Sako was chained to a cage with his legs handcuffed together. Amber was frightened. How could a puny man chain up a full grown dragon?? "Wondering how I chained up your dragon?" he said, like a mind reader. "Here's your answer!" He whistled and out, from behind the hill, sprang a black dragon with twinkling red eyes and orange stripes down its back. It flew down and breathed fire on Sako. Sako pulled his head in. The man began laughing crazily so Amber took this chance to open the handcuffs and the cage. Sako flew out and roared at the man. He flapped his wings and hit the man against the wall of the cave and knocked him out.

Then Sako turned to the dragon. Amber's amulet glowed. It said "His name is Jaro. He is the worst dragon anywhere." Sako roared and then rammed Jaro in the stomach. Jaro roared a croaky roar. He fell to the ground but, like most dragons, wouldn't give up. He breathed four enormous fire balls at Sako. Sako had to struggle but had enough power to deliver the fatal last blow. He rammed his horned head into Jaro's back. Jaro was totally knocked out of the competition. He fainted "Look Sako, theres an emergency phone, let's call!" The bad dragon squirmed a little but didn't wake up. Soon landrovers were coming up the hill. Sako groaned. Amber knew why, If the police found out about the dragons and the eggs they would surely have search parties up the volcano probably with guns. She knew they'd be afraid of Sako. So she thought fast.

She grabbed the keys and jammed them into each cage in turn. Sako was putting the eggs into the bag. The older dragons put the baby dragons on their backs. They flew away but Sako remained. "Go, Sako, before the police come" she said, trying to hide her sadness, because even though they had only been friends a short while, she really liked him. Sako flew up into the air and roared. That reminded Amber "Oh, yeah I guess you want your amulet back" The amulet glowed it said "No, you keep it." Sako picked Jaro onto his back and flew. Amber felt sad. At least the eggs were ok. Soon the police came. Amber explained "This man tried to steal rare, endangered eggs!" The police woke the man up and put him in a landrover. His first words were "This won't be the last you'll see of me, meddling girl!" She jumped in a landrover, thinking. She was still sad and missed Sako, but she felt satisfied to have helped. Now that she knew about the dragons, she also knew she'd have loads of adventures. Well, she thought, at least I helped. She leaned back and shut her eyes happy.

The End
By Caitlin

SIR JOHN M'NEILL

FUNERAL SERVICE AT ST JAMES'S
By permission of His Majesty the King, a funeral service for Sir John was held on Monday afternoon at the Chapel Royal, St. James's, conducted by the Rev. Edgar Sheppard, D.D., subdean. A Union Jack and several beautiful wreaths covered the coffin, among them being a tribute from their Majesties, bearing the inscription *In sorrowing remembrance of our dear old friend, Sir John McNeill - Edward VII and Alexandra," and close by was an emblem sent by the German Emperor. Others included a very large wreath of orchids from Lord and Lady Strathcona; a large cross of white lilies from Lady Gordon Cathcart; one of pale blue irises from Lady Lilian Yorke; one of scarlet geraniums from Capt. and Mrs. McNeill; a wreath of stephanotis and gardenia from Mrs. Rogers of Ellary; a cross of lilies and pink roses from Lady de Cappell Brooke; a bunch of red roses from Mrs. Farquhar; a large wreath of lilies of the valley from Major and Mrs. McNeill; a cross of white flowers from Sir John's servants, and a great many others.

The King was represented by Sir Stanley Clarke, the Queen by the Hon. Sidney Greville, and the Prince of Wales by Sir Arthur Bigge, while Count Paul Wolff-Metternich was present on behalf of the Kaiser. Both the Duke of Connaught and the Princess Christian attended in person, while the Princess Louise (Duchess of Argyll), Princess Henry of Battenberg, and the Duke of Argyll were represented. In the congregation were the Duchess of Buccleuch, the Earl of Pembroke (Lord Steward), the Earl of Clarendon (Lord Chamberlain), Earl and Countess Roberts, Earl of Wemyss, Lord Knollys, Lord Strathcona, Lord Reay, Lord Hawkesbury, General Lord William Seymour, Lord Edward Pelham-Clinton, Field-Marshall Sir Frederick Haines, Field-Marshall Sir Henry Norman, General Sir Hugh Gough, Sir Spenser Ponsonby Fane, Sir Adolphus Fitzgeorge, Sir Henry and Lady Evelyn Ewart, the Hon. A Yorke, the Hon. Harriet Phipps, the Hon. Ethel Cadogan, and many others. The members of the lamented General's family who were present as mourners included Capt. and Mrs. McNeill of Oronsay, Mr Malcolm McNeill C.B., Major and Mrs Malcolm McNeill, Mr Duncan Alex. McNeill, Mr Charles and Lady Hilda McNeill, Major Angus McNeill, Seaforth Highlanders, Mr abnd Mrs Donald McNeill, Mr Neil McNeill, Scots Guards, Sir Arthur and Lady de Capell Brooke, Rev. Henry and Mrs Rogers of Ellary, Capt. and Mrs. Arthur Farquhar, Mr Streatfield Moore, Mr Edward Streatfield, Miss Streatfield, Mr Angus D. T. McNeill, Sir Reginald and Lady Gordon Cathcart, Lady Lilian Yorke etc., etc. A deputation attwended from the Royal Berkshire Regiment, with which corps Sir John was associated in the Soudan.

The service was deeply impressive. The hymns included, "When the day of toil is done," *Now the labourer's task is o'er," and Tennyson's beautiful "Crossing the Bar":-
Siunset and evening star
And one clear call for me,
And may there vbe no moaning of the bar
When I put out to sea.

Siongularly appropriate were these words in the case of the island laird, who in his last sleep was being borne to his final r4esting-place in Poronsay across the sea.

At the close Chopin's "Funeral March" was played.

FUNERAL AT ORONSAY
The funeral, after a largely-attended service in the Chapel Royal, St. James's, London, on the previous day, as noted above, took place on Tuesday to the family burial place within the ruins of the ancient Priory of Oronsay. The funeral party included:- Capt. and Mrs MacNeill, Mrs Rogers, Captain and Mrs Farquhar, Major Malcolm MacNeill, Mr Neil MacNeill, Scots Guards,; Captain Malcolm MacNeill, 91st Highlanders; and Miss Jamieson (who represented Princess Louise). Having arrived at Oban by the mid-day train, the party embarked on a private yacht ["Oriental"], kindly lent for the occasion. The coffin, which was of polished oak and simply inscribed, was wrapped in a Union Jack and covered with a wealth of wreaths. [Photographs on the yacht and at Oronsay are in the collection of Mrs. Maryann MacAllister; copies may be seen at the Hotel].

The proceedings were private, but the utmost respect was shown in Oban, and the burgh and other flags were flown half-mast high. The sea was as smooth as glass, and after a journey of about three hours Oronsay was reached. While passing Scalasaig people were observed on the hillsides watching the approach of the yacht. Nearly the whole male population awaited the arrival of the deceased laird's remains at the landing place, headed by the Rev. Dugald Carmichael (minister of the parish). A landing was effected on the beach. The coffin was carried by men, who waded knee-deep into the water, and was afdterwards transferred to a Canadian buck board and covered with the Union Jack, on which were laid numerous wreaths and the deceased General's cocked hat and sword. [The buck board survived for many years in Oronsay and a wheel may be seen today as an ornament affixed to the wall of the Barn Bar at Cologin, by Oban].

The party then proceeded slowly across the grassy plain towards the Priory, where they were met by Dr. Chinnery Haldane, the Bishop of Argyll and the isles, who preceeded the remains reciting the burial service and the Psalm "Lord, Thou hast been our refuge". The grave, just within the gate of the fanmily burying place, had been carefully lined with moss and ferns. At the conclusion of the burial service, prayer was offered in Gaelic by the Rev. Dugald Carmichael, soon after which the funeral party returned towards the harbour and re-embarked for Oban.

JURA INHABITANTS IN THE 1620'S

The article which follows below (re. Lindsay) makes one wonder about the antecedents of Hew (Aohb) McLeindsaich (or McLeisich, but commonly spelled McCleisich?), who married "Dorothy McPhetrus (McIliphedir). Was he of native stock, or was he an incomer? It must be remembered that Jura was harried throughout the 17th century, and that allegedly almost the entire population was annihilated in the 1680's.

The following list gives the Latin form of Gaelic names recorded in Jura by Fr, Patrick Hegarty, 29 December 1625, with the editor's suggested English equivalent:

Christina Alexandri = MacAllister
Columba Baotodh = Beaton
Christina Biocoir = MacVicar
Dubfusa Breitnuidh = Brown or Galbraith
Daniel Cheoin, insulae dominus = MacIain
Alexander Cheoin, nobilis
Aphrica Cheoin
Severinus Cheoin
Columba Cuynidh
Catarina Chemuis (?) = Hamish's Katie
Christina Clery = Clark
Joannes Coilin
Daniel Coicside
Maria Canoil = McNeill ?
Daniel Cneill
Catarina Cnocoill
Reginalda Cnocoill
Columba Dubhuy = MacPhee
Mora Dubhuy
Fiacrius Fergusa = Ferguson ?
Gillatius Fergusa
Columba Gilliosa = Gillies
Aphrica Gobann = Smith
Maria Gabann
Joannes Giollabuidhe = Buidhe (cf. St. Buo)
Nola Giollabuidhe
Donatus Giollabuidhe
Joannes Giollaceir
Maria Giollasuathnaidh = Shaw
Joannes Gillasacbny = Shaw
Columba Guaret = McQuarrie
Catarina Guaret
Christina Kay = McKay
Gillatius Kay
Christophorus Lageir = Lindsay? Or "of Lagg"?
Catarina Muileachluynn = MacMillan (Bell)
Daniel Muireadh = Currie (MacMhuirrich)
Maria Muireadh
Aphrica Muirioson
Christina Muireadh, baptizata
Gillatius Mocreath = "heart throb", i.e. beloved
Daniel Vosdin

LINDSAY OF JURA

"The Corncrake" has heard of an interesting DNA project centred upon the Lindsay family of Jura. The proven family tree seems to commence with Hew (Aohb) McLeindsaich, b. 1677 at Cames, who married Dorothy McPhetrus (McIliphedir) and whose children were born from 1705 onwards. It seems that six branches of the Lindsay family of Jura have shared information and three individuals (two of whom are known to be first cousins) have provided DNA information which appears to be sufficiently distinct to assist further research. For various reasons, it is believed that the "Lindsay" name was once "McLeisich", but was changed in the late 17th century. The family was involved in the ferries of the drove route, and members of the family will inevitably have been involved in the trade itself, and therefore travelled far and wide. Overall, most Lindsay DNA results are of the "Atlantic Modal Haplotype", which is seemingly what might be expected. The Jura group are rather different and instead seem to have links to a MacGregor sample and to other non-AMH types. Indeed, the Jura group are of an "extremely rare and separate haplogroup". As this editor reads it, the Lindsays of Jura are of Haplogroup I, of which examples have been found in "Ulster, Jura, Western Norway, Ukraine, Latvia, Croatia". The initial results also suggest that the Lindsay Group 7 DNA links them closely with early inhabitants of the area, and it seems likely that there could be value in relating the study to that of the MacPhee and MacDonald families. Perhaps this is not really the lost tribe of Israel, but inevitably lines of pre-Irish DNA will survive in Scotland and this research may help to identify the specific markers. More information can be found on: http://www.clanlindsay.com/dna_group_7.htm

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