MacQueen of Pall à Chrocain
Encyclopedia
MacQueen of Pall à Chrocain was a legendary Highland
deer stalker
popularly believed to have slain the last wolf in Scotland
in 1743. The scene of the incident was Tarnaway Forest in the province of Morayshire in the county of Inverness
. MacQueen received a message from his chief, the Laird
of Clan Mackintosh
, that a black wolf
had killed two children whilst they were crossing the hills from Cawdor
with their mother. MacQueen was requested to attend a "Tainchel" (a gathering to drive the country) at a tryst above Fi-Giuthas. In the morning, the Tainchel had long been assembled, though MacQueen was not initially present. When he arrived, MacQueen received a tirade of insulting comments for his delay, to which he asked "Ciod e à chahbhag?" (what was the hurry?). MacQueen lifted his plaid and produced the decapitated head of the wolf, tossing it in the middle of the surprised circle. MacQueen described to the assembly how he achieved the feat;
The chief rewarded him, giving him a land called Sean-achan "to yield good meat for his good greyhounds in all time coming". He later became chief of Clan MacQueen
, and died in 1797.
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
deer stalker
Deer hunting
Deer hunting is survival hunting or sport hunting, harvesting deer, dating back to tens of thousands of years ago. Which occurred though out Europe Asia and North America There are numerous types of deer throughout the world that are hunted.- New Zealand :...
popularly believed to have slain the last wolf in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in 1743. The scene of the incident was Tarnaway Forest in the province of Morayshire in the county of Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
. MacQueen received a message from his chief, the Laird
Laird
A Laird is a member of the gentry and is a heritable title in Scotland. In the non-peerage table of precedence, a Laird ranks below a Baron and above an Esquire.-Etymology:...
of Clan Mackintosh
Clan MacKintosh
Clan Mackintosh is a Scottish clan from Inverness with strong Jacobite ties. The Mackintoshes were also chiefs of the Chattan Confederation.-Origins:...
, that a black wolf
Black wolf (animal)
A black wolf is a melanistic color variant of the grey wolf . Black specimens are recorded among red wolves , but these color variants are probably extinct...
had killed two children whilst they were crossing the hills from Cawdor
Cawdor
Cawdor is a village and parish in Nairnshire, Highland council area, Scotland. The village is situated 5 miles south south west of Nairn, and 12 miles from Inverness.-History:The village is the location of Cawdor Castle, the seat of the Earl Cawdor....
with their mother. MacQueen was requested to attend a "Tainchel" (a gathering to drive the country) at a tryst above Fi-Giuthas. In the morning, the Tainchel had long been assembled, though MacQueen was not initially present. When he arrived, MacQueen received a tirade of insulting comments for his delay, to which he asked "Ciod e à chahbhag?" (what was the hurry?). MacQueen lifted his plaid and produced the decapitated head of the wolf, tossing it in the middle of the surprised circle. MacQueen described to the assembly how he achieved the feat;
"As I came through the slochk (ravine) by east the hill there, I foregathered wi' the beast. My long dogLongdogA Longdog is a type of dog; it is a crossbreed between two sighthounds . They are distinct from the Lurcher which is a cross between a sighthound breed and a non-sighthound breed...
there turned him. I bucked wi' him, and dirkit him, and syne whuttled his craig (cut his throat), and brought awa' his countenance for fear he might come alive again, for they are very precarious creatures.
The chief rewarded him, giving him a land called Sean-achan "to yield good meat for his good greyhounds in all time coming". He later became chief of Clan MacQueen
Clan MacQueen
Clan Macqueen is a Scottish clan, formally known as MacSween, one of the ancient West Highland and Hebridean Warrior Kindreds. The clan does not have a chief recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms. Because of this, the clan is considered an armigerous clan, and as such Clan Macqueen has no...
, and died in 1797.