Fishermen from the Small Isles (Canna, Rum, Eigg & Muck) in common with UK fishermen have always been superstitious in one way or another. The fishermen from the Small Isles had a curious tradition of not referring to their home island when afloat in order that witches or other evil spirits would not know where they came from. So instead they used the following names for their home islands when afloat:
Canna - An t-eilean tarssuin - The island lying across
Rum - Rioghachd na forraiste fiadhaich - the kingdom of the wild forest
Eigg - Eilean nan Banmore - the island of the great woman
Muck - Tirr Chrainne - the sow’s island
I wonder if sea kayaker’s should use these names in order to avoid bad luck or witches interfering with their exploration and enjoyment of paddling around the Small Isles today?
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