Torcastle and Banquo

Note: The old Castle of Tor-Castle is by the natives of the place Tigh Bhanco i.e. ‘Banquo’s house’. There is a walk by the Lochyside to the North of Tor Castle known as Sràid Bhanco, i.e. ‘Banquo’s Walk’; and the small green field close by the Castle is called Dail a’ Chait i.e. ‘The field of the Cats’ where Banquo is said to have gone through a mode of ‘Divination’ by means of placing a Cat on an iron spit & torturing him until the ‘Taing[?] of the Cats’ – a powerful spirit, or demon came forward, and on condition of getting his subject released revealed future to the questioner. The site is erroneously styled ‘Togarma’ by Sir Walter Scott in a note to the Lady at the Lake. The correct designation is Tigh-ghairm nan Cat; i.e. ‘The House of Invocation of the Cats.)

Shakespeare in all probability heard the Gaelic traditions about Banquo Thane of Lochaber. There is a song by John MacDonald (Iain Lòm) who lived in the reigns of Charles I and II speaking of the Stewart Kings and of the ‘True Face[?] of Banquo’.

Arch. Carm[?] L.L.D.
Kilmallie Manse
16th Aug. 1872