Mediaeval times
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I Donald Glas) were transported to South Carolina for the part they had taken in the rebellion of 1745. Then my great-grandfather, Aonghas Mac Alasdair Bhàin, became representative, or Ceann Taigh to Bothiunntin, and after him my grandfather. In my own young days in Cape Breton the members of the family of Bothiunntin saluted my uncle Angus ' Cean Taigh.' In 1816 my grandfather, with his family, emigrated from Achnancoichichan, in the Braes of Lochaber, to Nova Scotia, and settled in the South-West Ridge, Mabon, C.B. He had three sons, Angus, Allan, and Donald, and five daughters. They were all settled in that county, and had large families. He died in 1829 in his 76th year. His wife, Mary Campbell, died in 1860, leaving descendants to the number of 250. In 1847 my father with his family left the Ridge and came to Upper South River, Antigonish County, about 80 miles from his former residence. I am myself in my 77th year, but do not expect to live as long as Iain Lom did. At the beginning of this century some Scotch historians got to work writing, and I believe their main object was to make money, as they had a good many errors in their works. 1 suppose they believed nobody knew better. As you have remarked, the best seanachies and singers left Scotland. They left Lochaber for certain." " If you see Neil MacLeod, the Skye bard, you can tell him I sent to Scotland for one of his books, " Clàrsach an Doire." Tell him also that John MacDonald, contractor, Antigonish, and I drank his Deoch-slàinte on 'Xmas eve, simply because ' he is such a good Gaelic bard, though he composed one proud song on " Clann Leòid," p. 38. Here is one verse of it— Thèid an tarbh mar a b' àbhaist Air an toiseach's a' ghabhadh, 'S cuiridh bùirein bho 'chàirean Crith air nàmhaid Chlann Leòid. To which I made the following reply on behalf of the MacDonalds :— CLANN DOMHNUILL. le alasdair an ridge. Rinneadh an t-òran so mar fhreagairt do dh-òran-molaidh Chlann Leòid. Seisd :—Ho i ri ri iu o Ho i ri ri iu o Hi ri ri s na i iu o Tha mo run air Clann Dò'ill. Gur a binn leam 'bhi leughadh Mu'n churaidh 'bha 'n Slèibhte, Dò'ull Mac Iain 'Ic Sheumais 'Chuir 'nan eigin Clann Leòid. Latha mòr sin na tràghad Le aon dusan de chairdean Bha dà-fhichead's an airidh De dh-àlach Chlann Leòid. Ged bha 'n tarbh air an reidhlein 'S e air toiseach na clèithe, Cha do chrith na fir Shlèibhteach, 'S bha 'n ratreut air Clann Leòid. Cha d' rinn bratach na sìthe Air an là ud bhur didean, Bha dà-fhichead 'nan sìneadh Dh' aindeoin innleachd Chlann Leòid. B' iomad gaisgeach math gleusda 'Bha tàmh ann an Slèibhte, Sir Dòmhnull's Sir Seumas Agus ceudan a chòrr. Dun-Tuilm nam fear treubhach, Dun flathail na fèille, 'S am biodh tathaich luchd-theudan, Far an èisdeadh ri ceòl. Clann Dòmhnuill mo ghràidh-sa Bu ro-chliùiteach mar thàinig Bho righrean na Spàinnte S bho chinn-àrd na Roinn-Eòrp'. Clann Dòmhnuill nan geur-lann, An cinneadh mòr euchdach, 'Nuair a chàirteadh gu streup iad Cha bu rèidh dol 'nan còir. Bho Charaidh's bho Shlèibhte, Bho Mhudart nan geugan, 'S bho Cheapaich nam freumhan, Dheanadh reubadh is leòn. Thig bho Mhòr-thlr na stuaidhe, 'S bho Chothann nam fuar-bheann, Fir nach sòradh an tuasaid, 'S tric thug buaidh anns an tòir. Dream eile 'bha ceutach, Anns a' chaonnaig nach gèilleadh, Iarla Antruim à Eirinn Leis an èireadh na Bloigh. B iad na suinn a bha ainmeil, Leis na chuireadh cath-gharbhraeh, 'S a fhuair tigh is leth Albainn Air a dhearbhadh le còir. Tha bhur n-eachdraidh ro-dhìreach, Iarla Rois agus Ile, Innse-Gall is Chinntìre, Sìol a' Mhìlidh's nan sròl. ^Nuair a thogte bhur bratach 'Dol ri aodainn nam baiteal 'Bhi air deas-làimh nan gaisgeach B'e sid fasan nan seòd. Is na'm fàgte sid aca, Mar a b'àbhaist's mar chleachd iad, Gu'n tàradh iad dhachaidh • Fir Shasuinn nan cleòchd. ALLAN MACDONALD, RIDGE, N.S. The following is an additional song by the late Allan MacDonald, Ridge, Nova Scotia, father of Alexander MacDonald, of Upper South River, Antigonish County, N.S. In sending it Mr Alexander MacDonald says :—"' Oran na Comh-achaig' was, most certainly, composed by Domhnull MacFhiullaidh about 400 years ago." That is the tradition among the emigrants that left Lochaber, and has been handed down from generation to generation. CATRIONA NIGH'N DUGHAILL. le ailean an ridge. Catriona nigh'n Dùghaill Bu ghrinn a chruit chiuil i, 'Nuair 'sheinn i le sunnd Sud na fuinn 'bu mhath gleusadh, Bha m' inntinn fo ionghnadh Ri linn dhomh bhi dùsgadh, 'S mi 'cluinntinn a' chiuil ud; Bu chiùin is bu rèidh e. Thug i sòlas do m' chridhe 'Nuair thòisich i rithisd Air crònan do nioghnaig Bu chridheil i-fein ris ; 'Seinn òrain do 'n leanabh, Sud an ceòl a bha tairis, 'Bha..bòidheach ri aithris, 'S mi'm chaithris gu h-èisdeadh. Air mo thaobh anns an leaba, Eadar dhùsgadh is chadal, Thug mi ùine mar bh' agam ; Bha mi fada gu èirigh, 'S mi 'g èisdeachd an òrain 'Bu ghrinne's bu bhòidhche ; Bu bninne e na'n t-eòinein 'Bhiodh air meòirean nan geugan. 'S ann leamsa 'bu bhòidhcE' e Na 'n uiseag air lònan, 'S i 'sior chur ri ceòl Anns an òg mhaduinn chèitein ; Na ceileireadh smeoraich A sheinneadh's na h-òganan ; B'fhearr leam gu mòr e Na ceòl as na teudan. Cha robh 'phiob's i 'na deannaibh, No ceòl fidhle th' air thalamh, Chuirinn fein ris an coimeas, 'S bha mi tamull 'ga èisdeachd Guth cinn a bha fallain, Bu bhinn leam do challan, 'S bu ghrinn 'bha mac-talla 'S a' bhalla toirt beus d' i. Bean shiobhalta, chòir i, Gun nihiothlachd, gun gho innt'; Gu'm bu dileas i dhomhsa, '8 tric a chòmhn' i mi'm èiginn ; Bean laghach's i fialaidh, Air an tadhail na ciadan; Làmh a dheanamh na biatachd, 'S tric a riaraich i feumaich. Thug i 'n dùthchas bho 'màthair, 'Bhi gu fiughanta, bàigheil: Gu 'n d' ionnsaich i trath dh' i Bhi gu nàdarra beusach : 'S cha b' e Dùghall 'bu tàire, Fear ciùin's e ro stàthail, Gun lùb no gun àrdan, 'S gun droch nàdar fo 'n ghrèin ann. Ged a tha sinn am Màbu, Gum b' fhearr bhi mar bha sinn, Ann an toiseach mo làithean, Air airidh na sprèidhe: Ann an strath Choire-Làire Bha sinn càrantach, càirdeil, 'S gach duine bho 'n d'thàinig sinn Bàigheil ri 'cheile. Fhuair i ri phòsadh Fear suairc de Ohlann-Dòmhnuill. Nach gluaiseadh le gòraich,' Duine còir's e làn cèille. Làn tuigs' agus riaghailt, '8 e iochdmhor ro chiallach : Fear glic's e gun mhiothlachd, Duin' fial 'na thaigh fèin e. Tha e nàdarra stuama; 'S ann dasan bu dual sin 'Bhi gun àrdan, gun bhruaillein, Gun bhuaireadh gun leumrakh. E-fèin is a bhràithrean, Cha' n e aon ac' a's tàire; 'S mis' a dh' f haodas a ràdhainn Bha Ailean an Ridge, no a' Mhàim, air oidhche àraid ann an taigh Dòmhnullàich am Mabu. Bha bean feai-an-taighe, Catriona nighean Dùghaill, a' gabhail crònain do nighinn bhig a b' ogha dh' i agus i a' feuchainn ri cur a chadal. Bha Ailean cho toilichte le binneas a gutha's gu'n do thòisich e air an òran 'na leaba. Bha an tè dha 'n do rinneadh an t-òran, Catriona nighean Dhùghaill Chaimbeil, de shliochd a' Phìobaire Mhòir a bha 's a' Cheapaich. Bha i 'na boirionnach gasda, measail. Gu'm bu chàirdeil ruinn fèin iad. ALASDAIR BUIDHE MACDONALD. About the middle of last century Alasdair Buidhe, Mac Aonghuis, 'ic Alasdair Mhòir, was coming from Edinburgh, and it was late at night when he came to upper Foil. On arriving at the house where he intended to put up for the night he heard some good singing going on inside. There were a number of people singing, " Fire faire faramach bidh òl air bainnis Dhùil]." He stood quietly at the door until they were finished, and then rapped. When the door was opened he sang the following verse which he composed on the spot:— Cha'n fheàirde mi 'bhi soch arach, 'S nach ceàird dhomh 'bhi ri dorsaireachd, 'S ma leigeas sibh 'n 'ur toiseach mi Gu'n coisinn mi mo rùm ann. There happened to be a witty fellow inside who answered— Bu mhath leinn fhèin 'n ar comunn thu, 'S bu taitneach leinn mu ar coinneamh thu, Na'n innseadh tu do shloinneadh dhuinn 'S na ceil cò i do dhùthaich. Then Alasdair Buidhe said— Ged tha mo dhùthaich fada bhuam, Bu dùthchas an tir Abrach dhomh, 'S am biodh na fiùrain mhaiseiche, Nach taisicheadh le mùiseag. 'S bho 'n dh' fhaighneachd thu mo shinnsearachd, Gu sloinnte air an Iarl Ilich mi, Siol Chuinn an sloinneadh dìrich, 'S cha tèid an ìre 'mhùthadh. This Alasdair Buidhe was a strong man. He was Mr Alexander MacDonald, Ridge's, great grandfather's cousin. His father was the husband of Nighean Aonghuis Oig, the poetess. She was rather stingy, and he was very good-hearted. Some one composed a song to them as follows :— Tha cridhe na circe Gun mhisneach aig Màiri, Thèid i beag^o ho ro, thèid i beag o, Tha cridhe hal f arsuinn 'Na luidhe ceart làimh-rithe Thèid i beag o hi o huil ho ro hug oran an. Tha cridhe fiarfarsuinn 'Na luidhe ceart làimh-rithe, Thèid i beag o ho ro, thèid i beag o, 'Us inntinn a' ghaisgich Nach taisich roimh nàmhaid : Thèid i beag o hi o huil ho ro hug oran an. 'Us inntinn a' ghaisgich Nach taisich roimh nàmhaid. Thèid i beag o ho ri, thèid i beag o, 'S nach tionndaidh a chùlthaobh Ri fudar no stàilinn: Thèid i beag o hi o huil ho ro hug oran an. 'S nach tionndaidh a chùlthaobh Ri fùdar no stàilinn, Thèid i beag o ho ri, thèid i beag o, Latha Sliabh-an-t-siona, Bu churaidh thar càch e: Thèid i beag o hi o huil ho ro hug oran an. Latha Sliabh-an-t-siona Bu churaidh thar càch e, Thèid i beag o ho ro, thèid i beag o, 'Bhualadh nam buillean Gu curanta làidir: Thèid i beag o hi o huil ho ro hug oran an. Alasdair Buidhe's father, Alasdair Mòr, fought at the battle of Mulroy in 16S8, and was transported to Holland, where he died of yellow fever the same year. He was 6 feet 8 inches in height, and stout in proportion. He and Aonghus Mòr na Tulocha were at that time the heroes of the country." " Nighean Aonghuis Oig composed many a song to her husband after his death ; one of them is as follows :— O !'s mi tha gun sunnd Gun bheadraclh eun mhuirn Bho'n chuir iad ^ an ùir an t-aon duine : 0, 's mi, &c. Duine cèillidh's e glic, As an ìre bu mhòr meas, Cha tugadh fear mi-sgoinn cùisean dheth. Duine foghainteaeh garg, 'N uair ghabhadh e 'n fhearg 'N àm tarruing nan arm cha b' e 'n cùlanach. 'N àm rùsgadh nan lann B' e 'n curaidh gun mheang, 'S b' e 'n gaisgeach neo-f hann's a' chaonnaig e. I also append a song by Allan MacDonald, Ridge, N.S., the father of Mr Alexander, who has supplied me with the above information. It is a song in praise of whisky, and descriptive of the weakness of those who worship at the shrine of Bacchus. A very good song. ORAN DO'N UISGE-BHEATHA. LE AILEIN DOMHNALLACH (AN BIDGEJ. Ge fada na mo thàmh mi Tha'n damhair dhomh dùsgadh, Cia fath mu'n thriall mo mhanran 'S gu'm b'àbhaist dhomh sùgradh ; 'Sen lagh a rinn am Papa 'Thug m' àbhacbd gu tuirse 'S a tharrainn mi gu smuairean Bho'n dh'fhuadaich e 'n drùdhag Cha'n'eil mi 'chreideamh Phàpa, Chalbhin no Luthair, 'S e 'n creideamh a bh'aig Bach us 'Tha làidir 'nam shùilean; 'Se 'n latha 'chum e'n t-sàbaid, A b'àbhaist dhomh bhi ag ùrnaigh, '8 i 'chaiUs 'bha 'na làimh 'Rinn mo thàladh gu dlùth ris. 'S e 'n creideamh a bh'aig Bàchus Da'm b'-àbhaist dhomh gèilleadh, 'S e 'b'fheàrr na 'bhi dol bàs Le bhi cràbhadh's a' leughadh, '8 e 'cheileireadh's a shòlas 'Chuir eòlas nan ceud air, 'S e bhuadhan bho Apollo 'Chuir mòran an deigh air. Ach teirm Base ort, a Bhachuis, 'Rinn m' fhàiflinn, 's bu mhòr ì, 'Nuair fhuair thu n lùib do ghràidh mi Le t'amhuiltean gòrach; Bu bhinne leam ri èisdeachd An tèis 'thig bho d'sgòrnan Na'n fhiodhull le 'cuid theudan No gleusadh nan organ. 'Nuair thionaileamaid còmhla Mu'n bhòrd's an tigh-sheinse, Na fir m'am bithinn eòlach 'S na h-òigearan gleusda, 'Nuair chìthinn fetuth na toiseachd 'S an coisreadh cho èibhinn Bu bhinne leam an ceòl sin Na smeòrach's a' chèitein. Bu chàrantach leam 'aogas 'Ga thaomadh's an stòpan, Download 4.23 Mb. Share with your friends:
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