The  relics  were  brought  back  again  by  the  abbot  in  a.d.  730.
346  THE  COLUMBIAN  SCHOOL  IN  ALBA.
In  A.D.  739,  we  read  of  the  Dimersio  familiae  lae,  as  if
the  greater  part  of  the  community  were  lost  in  some  flood  or
shipwreck — ^most  likely  the  latter.  In  a.d.  753,  and  in  sub-
sequent years  reference  is  made  to  enforcing  the  Law  of
Columcille,  which  seems  to  have  been  a  tribute  assessed  by
the  parent  house  on  the  subject  mcmasteries  and  their  ad-
jacent lands.  As  the  relics  of  Adamnan  were  carried  to
Erin,  where  his  Cain  was  enforced,  so  it  is  likely  some  relics,
if  not  of  Columba's  body,  yet  in  some  other  way  connected
with  him,  were  carried  roimd  on  these  occasions.
lona  had  now  become  a  celebrated  place  of  pilgrimage.
Even  kings  and  princes,  as  Columba  had  predicted,  came  to
the  island  shrine,  and  were  deemed  especially  happy,  when
they  died  on  their  pilgrimage.  Niall  Frassach  gave  up  his
crown  to  take  the  pilgrim's  stafi^  and  died  in  lona  in
a.d.  778  ;  so  did  Artgal,  son  of  Cathal,  King  of  Connaught,
in  A.D.  791,  and  many  princes  of  the  Picts  and  Saxons  in
like  manner.
Thus  for  two  hundred  years  since  the  death  of  their  holy
founder,  the  community  had  been  growing  in  celebrity  and
influence,  but  now  a  day  of  trial  and  doom  was  at  hand.
