944: Mar a Thàinig an Guirmean a dh’Alba (3)
Litir sheachdaineach do luchd-ionnsachaidh le clàr-fuaime, tar-sgrìobhadh is mìneachadh. A weekly letter to Gaelic learners with audio, transcription and explanation.
Tha an litir ag obrachadh leis an fhaclair. Tagh an taba ‘teacsa Gàidhlig’ agus tagh facal sam bith san teacsa agus fosglaidh am faclair ann an taba ùr agus bidh mìneachadh den fhacal ann. The letter is integrated with the dictionary. Select the tab ‘Gaelic text’ and choose any word and the dictionary will open and you will see the English explanation of the Gaelic word.
Mar a Thàinig an Guirmean a dh’Alba (3)
Bha mi ag innse na sgeulachd ‘Mar a Thàinig an Guirmean a dh’Alba’. Bha an dìlleachdan Barrach anns na h-Innseachan. Lìon an triùir fhear am bara aige le slatan òir. Thill e dhachaigh don tuathanach. Bha e air a bhith air falbh beagan làithean agus bha an t-eagal air an tuathanach gun robh e marbh. Bha e air gealltainn don mheat air an t-soitheach gun cumadh e sàbhailte e.
Sheall an gille am bara – làn slatan òir – don tuathanach. ‘Dè tha thu a’ dol a dhèanamh le sin?’ dh’fhaighnich an tuathanach.
‘Tha mi a’ dol gam fàgail agaibh fhèin,’ ars an gille.
‘O,’ ars an tuathanach, ‘na fàg agams’ idir iad. ʼS ann leat fhèin a tha iad. ʼS tu am fear as beartaiche air an oighreachd an-diugh, is làn bara de shlatan òir agad.’
Bha iad beagan làithean aig an taigh is thàinig an tuathanach a dh’ionnsaigh a’ ghille. ‘Tha oighreachd mhòr ga reic,’ thuirt e. ‘ʼS e oighreachd ghuirmein a th’ innte. Thèid mise dhan rùp is ceannaichidh mi an oighreachd agus bidh d’ ainm fhèin oirre.’
‘Glè mhath,’ ars an gille òg.
Chaidh an tuathanach don rùp agus cheannaich e an oighreachd leis na slatan òir. ‘ʼS ann leat fhèin a tha an oighreachd a-nise,’ thuirt e ris a’ ghille. ‘Faodaidh tu an luchd-obrach a chumail no faodaidh tu faighinn cuidhteas iad mar a thogras tu fhèin. Ach ʼs dòcha gum biodh e glic an cumail oir ʼs ann acasan a tha fios air mar a dh’fhàsas tu an guirmean.’ Chùm an gille an luchd-obrach agus chaidh gnothaichean gu math leis air an oighreachd.
Chaidh bliadhnaichean seachad agus cò nochd latha a bha seo aig taigh an tuathanaich ach am meat. Bha e air tilleadh bho na seachd cuantan. ‘Ca’l an gille?’ dh’fhaighnich e.
‘Uill,’ ars an tuathanach, ‘tha an gille nas fheàrr dheth an-diugh na tha thusa no mise. Thèid sinn a chèilidh air.’
‘Glè mhath,’ ars am meat, agus chaidh iad a chèilidh air an dìlleachdan. Ràinig iad an taigh agus ʼs e taigh mòr a bh’ ann. Thàinig an gille chun an dorais. Rug e fhèin ʼs am meat air làimh air a chèile agus dh’fhaighnich am meat dheth gu dè a bh’ air èirigh dha.
Mhìnich an gille an suidheachadh dha agus gun robh an oighreachd aige làn guirmein. Dh’fhaighnich an gille mun bhàta ‘Cò th’ oirre an-diugh?’ dh’fhaighnich e.
‘Chan eil ach an t-seann fheadhainn air a bheil thu eòlach,’ ars am meat.
‘Glè mhath,’ ars an gille. ‘Tha mi airson ʼs gum fuirich thu agam a-nochd agus a-màireach lìonaidh sinn am bàta le luchd de ghuirmean. Ach tha mi a’ dol a chur an sgiobair dhith, agus pàirt dhen chriutha leis – an fheadhainn a bha nam aghaidh. Gheibh thusa comannd air a’ bhàta agus bidh i leat fhèin an uair sin.’
‘Glè mhath,’ ars am meat. Chuir iad a h-uile sìon air dòigh agus luchdaich iad am bàta le guirmean. Chuir an gille an sgiobair agus pàirt dhen chriutha a-mach – an fheadhainn a bh’ air a bhith na aghaidh air a’ chiad bhòidse. Bha am meat na sgiobair agus sheòl iad am bàta gu ruige Alba. Agus b’ e sin a’ chiad turas a ràinig an guirmean Alba – taing do dhìlleachdan à Barraigh. Agus ʼs e sin mo sgeulachd, fìor no breugach ged a bhitheas i.
Faclan na Litreach: guirmean: normally woad but as this is from India, it probably means guirmean Innseanach or indigo; slatan òir: golden rods; luchd: cargo; luchdaich: loaded; gu ruige: to.
Abairtean na Litreach: Bha an dìlleachdan Barrach anns na h-Innseachan: the Barra orphan was in India/the Indies; bha e air gealltainn don mheat gun cumadh e sàbhailte e: he had promised the mate that he would keep him safe; na fàg agams’ idir iad: don’t leave them to me at all; ʼs ann leat fhèin a tha iad: they belong to you; ʼs tu am fear as beartaiche: you are the wealthiest man; thèid mise dhan rùp is ceannaichidh mi an oighreachd agus bidh d’ ainm fhèin oirre: I’ll go to the auction and I’ll buy the estate and your own name will be on it; ʼs dòcha gum biodh e glic an cumail: perhaps it would make sense to keep them; ʼs ann acasan a tha fios air mar a dh’fhàsas tu an guirmean: they’re the ones that know how to grow indigo; rug e fhèin ʼs am meat air làimh air a chèile: he and the mate shook each other’s hands; gu dè a bh’ air èirigh dha: what had happened to him; chan eil ach an t-seann fheadhainn air a bheil thu eòlach: only the old ones you know; tha mi a’ dol a chur an sgiobair dhith, agus pàirt dhen chriutha leis: I’m going to put the captain off, and part of the crew with him; an fheadhainn a bh’ air a bhith na aghaidh air a’ chiad bhòidse: the ones who had been against him on the first voyage; chuir iad a h-uile sìon air dòigh: they organised everything.
Puing-chànain na Litreach: Tha oighreachd mhòr ga reic: there is a large estate being sold. Ga reic is a passive form ie we don’t have to say who is doing the selling. It is the same structure you will hear on Radio nan Gàidheal during the lambing season – tha uan ga thoirt seachad ‘a lamb is being given away’. Here is another example (and note the lack of lenition because it is a feminine singular possessive) – tha am bàta ga càradh‘the boat is being repaired’.
Gnàthas-cainnt na Litreach: faodaidh tu faighinn cuidhteas iad mar a thogras tu fhèin: you can get rid of them as you wish yourself.
NB: A full version of the story is available on the Tobar an Dualchais website – it’s a tremendous resource – make sure you use it!
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Litir do Luchd-ionnsachaidh
This letter corresponds to Tha an Litir seo a’ buntainn ri An Litir Bheag 640
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