‘Aig a’ Mhuc Mhara’
Photograph of a stranded whale.
Courtesy of Mr Ronnie MacLean
Before the development of paraffin lamps, lighting in Tiree’s houses was provided by small oil lamps known in Gaelic as ‘crùisgean’. Oil from various fish was used but whales stranded on the shore were another important source.
The Statistical Account of 1845 recorded that ‘…shoals of small whales sometimes frequent our bays; and the people have become very expert at driving them ashore with boats… They are commonly from 15 to 20 feet long, and their blubber yields about a barrel of oil, each.’ From this description, they are most likely to have been Long-finned Pilot Whales.
This photograph titled ‘Aig a’ Mhuc Mhara’ (At the whale), of what is probably a Northern Bottle-nosed Whale, came from a small album from Silversands in Vaul and dates from the 1920s or early 1930s.
Black and white photograph of two unknown women and a dead whale from a small album from Silversands.
`Aig a` Mhuc Mhara` (at the whale) from a small album from Silversands, Vaul, titled `Idle Days` probably dating from the 1920s or early 1930s.
Black and white postcard of Scarinish harbour, postmarked in the 1930s.
Postcard of the `Mary Stewart` in Scarinish harbour with the lighthouse in the background, postmarked in the 1930s.
Black and white photograph of three unknown women outside Silversands from a small album from Silversands.
Three women pegging out what is probably a shawl on the grass to dry using feathers, from a small album from Silversands, Vaul, titled `Idle Days` probably dating from the 1920s or early 1930s.
Black and white postcard of Loch a` Mhullain, postmarked in the 1930s.
Postcard of Loch a` Mhullain (probably Loch Bhasapol), postmarked in the 1930s.
Black and white photograph of a coal puffer on Gott Bay from a small album from Silversands.
`Bata guail ann an Camus Ghot` (the coal boat in Gott Bay) from a small album from Silversands, Vaul, titled `Idle Days` probably dating from the 1920s or early 1930s.
Black and white postcard of Vaul Bay postmarked in the 1930s.
Postcard of Vaul Bay postmarked in the 1930s.
Black and white photograph of a coal puffer on Gott Bay from a small album from Silversands.
`Bata guail ann an Camus Ghot` (the coal boat in Gott Bay) from a small album from Silversands, Vaul, titled `Idle Days` probably dating from the 1920s or early 1930s.
Black and white photograph of an unknown woman on the Ringing Stone from a small album from Silversands.
`Clach a` Choire` (the Ringing Stone) from a small album from Silversands, Vaul, titled `Idle Days` probably dating from the 1920s or early 1930s.
Black and white photograph of an unknown couple on Salum beach from a small album from Silversands.
`Camus Shaluim` (Salum Bay) from a small album from Silversands, Vaul, titled `Idle Days` probably dating from the 1920s or early 1930s.
Black and white photograph of an unknown man with a pet lamb from a small album from Silversands.
`Da Pheata` (two pets) from a small album from Silversands, Vaul, titled `Idle Days` probably dating from the 1920s or early 1930s.
