Mermaids: Sanday Island and Canna, Inner Hebrides

c.1570

From the Caledonian Mercury, 18th November 1809.

MERMAIDS. A Correspondent writes as follows.

ARASAIG, 28th Sept. 1809. -- The following declaration was this day emitted, in presence of the after subscribing witnesses.

Neil McIntosh in Sandy Island, Canna, states that he has heard from different individuals in the island of Canna, that they have seen the fish called Mermaids; that these anials had the upper parts resembling the human figure, and the lower extremities resembling a fish. In particular, about six years ago, Neil Stewart and Neil McIsaac, both alive in Canna, when walking upon the sea beach on the north end of the isalnd, on a Sunday, saw stretched on a rock at a small distance, an animal of the above description, having the appearance of a woman in the upper parts and of a fish below; that on seeing them it sprung into the water, after which they had a more distinct view of its upper parts, which strongly resembled a female of the human species --

That Lachlan McArthur, of the same island, informed McIntosh, that some years ago, sailing from Uist to Skye in a stormy day, he saw rising from the water near the stern of the boat in which he was, a figure resembling a woman in upper parts, which terrified him extremely.

Neil McIntosh further states, that he himself, about five year ago, was steering a boat from Canna to Skye in a stormy day; that when about one fourth of the passage from Canna he saw something near him of a white colour, and of the human figure, spring almost out of the water, which he took for the animal above described; but as it instantly disappeared again, he had no opportunity of examining it minutely; that he felt considerable alarm at the sight of it, as a general opinion of prejudice exists amongst the inhabitants of the Western Isles, that it is extremely unlucky to meet with or look upon such animals at sea, or to point them out to the rest of the crew, unless they observe it of themselves.

Signed, Neil McIntosh; Robert Brown, factor for Clanrannald, witness; Donald McNeil of Canna, witness; William Campbell, W.S. Edinburgh, witness; James Gillespie, architect, Edinburgh, witness.

Portree, 2d Oct. 1809-- That what is above written is a true copy of the original.
Attested Malcolm Wright, N.P..