Ní raibh de chomharthaí á leanúint ach an méid éadaigh a bhí ar na cnámha acu - - They had nothing with them but the clothes on their bones.
de chomharthaí á leanúint - - of tokens following them. Comharthaí suggests battle standards or trophies. The islanders were disappointed that there were no "goodies" brought from the mainland for them. Tomás writes in heroic terms as if these people were returning from war with spoils or without as in this case.