1044: Loch a’ Ghartain (2)

Bha mi ag innse dhuibh mu Dhòmhnall Mac a’ Phearsain agus am Bodach a bha beò anns na coilltean timcheall Loch a’ Ghartain ann an Srath Spè. Nuair a chunnaic e an rud geal anns an dorchadas, rinn Dòmhnaill air an taigh aige na dheann. Nuair a ràinig e an cidsin, chaidh e an laigse agus thuit e.

Chuala a mhàthair am fuaim a rinn e nuair a thuit e, agus dh’èirich i bhon leabaidh aice. Rinn i trod air airson a bhith a-muigh cho anmoch ach bha uiread de dh’eagal air Dòmhnall mu na chunnaic ʼs na chuala e ʼs nach tuirt e dad mu dheidhinn chun an ath latha.

Bha diofar bheachdan aig daoine nuair a chuala iad an naidheachd aige. Bha cuid dhen bheachd gun robh e na dhearbhadh gur e obair an Diabhail a bh’ ann an cluich chairtean. Bha cuid eile, ge-tà, dhen bheachd gur e am Bodach a chuir eagal air. Bhiodh daoine ga chluinntinn nuair a bha bàs an impis tighinn air cuideigin anns an sgìre. Agus, thathar ag ràdh, goirid an dèidh na h-oidhche sin, chaochail am fear aig an robh am baile-fearainn air mhàl far an robhar a’ cluich chairtean.

Nise, goirid an dèidh sin, thiodhlaic iad an duine bochd anns a’ chladh aig an t-seann eaglais ann an Ceann Chàrdainn. Aig an àm sin, bhite a’ toirt dust duine don chladh ann an cairt a bh’ air a tarraing le eich. An turas seo, fhuaireadh a’ chairt o fhear an taigh-òsta ann an Drochaid Neithich. Bha i air a tarraing le dà àigeach gheal.

Tha mi an dùil gun tug iad an seann rathad faisg air an Tulach. Nuair a ràinig iad an t-àite far an robh Dòmhnall Mac a’ Phearsain air an rud geal fhaicinn air an oidhche, thòisich na h-àigich air sabaid le chèile. Bha iad a’ breabadh ʼs a’ bìdeadh ʼs ag èirigh air an casan deiridh. Mu dheireadh, chuir an carbad-tiodhlacaidh car. Ach bha na h-eich fhathast a’ sabaid ged nach robh iad air an casan tuilleadh. Agus leig fear dhiubh sgreuch coltach ris an sgreuch a chuala Dòmhnall air an oidhche a bha e a-muigh leis fhèin.

An robh an dà-shealladh air Dòmhnall? An robh e air manadh fhaicinn? Am b’ iad na h-àigich am Bodach ann an dha-rìridh? ʼS iomadh còmhradh a bh’ aig muinntir an àite air na thachair airson ùine mhòr.

A bharrachd air a’ Bhodach, bha daoine a’ cumail a-mach gun robh biast-uisge air choreigin a’ fuireach anns an loch fhèin. Chan e each-uisge no tarbh-uisge a bh’ ann, ach rudeigin eadar na dhà. Bha e dubh le muing mhòr air, agus ceann mòr. Bhathar ga fhaicinn mar bu trice ri taobh an uillt a tha a’ dol bho Loch a’ Ghartain gu ruige Loch Mallachaidh mu leth-mhìle air falbh. Bhathar dhen bheachd gum biodh an creutair seo ag ithe clann òg agus uain. Bhiodh e a’ tighinn a-mach air an oidhche, agus bhiodh daoine ga chluinntinn, agus e ri bùirich.

Bha aon chroitear na bu dàna na càch agus chuir e roimhe a’ bhiast eagallach seo a chur an grèim. Bha e gu math innleachdach agus tha cuid a’ cumail a-mach gun do rinn e an gnothach. Ach ciamar? Cluinnidh sibh an-ath-sheachdain.

Faclan na Litreach: : chaochail: died; baile-fearainn air mhàl:a rented farm; taigh-òsta: inn; Drochaid Neithich: Nethy Bridge; an dà-shealladh: second-sight; manadh:omen, apparition; muing: mane; bùirich: bellowing, roaring; innleachdach: inventive.

Abairtean na Litreach: a bha beò anns na coilltean timcheall Loch a’ Ghartain ann an Srath Spè: who was living in the woods around Loch Garten in Strathspey; rinn Dòmhnall air an taigh aige na dheann: Donald made for his house in a rush; dh’èirich i bhon leabaidh aice: she rose from her bed; rinn i trod air airson a bhith a-muigh cho anmoch: she scolded him for being out so late; gun robh e na dhearbhadh gur e obair an Diabhail a bh’ ann an cluich chairtean: that it was proof that playing cards was the Devil’s work; nuair a bha bàs an impis tighinn air cuideigin anns an sgìre: when somebody in the area was about to die; an t-seann eaglais ann an Ceann Chàrdainn: the old church in Kincardine; bhite a’ toirt dust duine don chladh: a person’s remains would be taken to the cemetery; air a tarraing le dà àigeach gheal: pulled by two white stallions; a’ breabadh ʼs a’ bìdeadh ʼs ag èirigh air an casan deiridh: kicking and biting and rising on their hind legs; chuir an carbad-tiodhlacaidh car: the funeral vehicle turned over; leig fear dhiubh sgreuch: one of them let out a screech; am b’ iad na h-àigich am Bodach ann an dha-rìridh?: were the stallions really the Bodach?; bhathar ga fhaicinn mar bu trice ri taobh an uillt: it was being seen usually next to the burn; gum biodh an creutair seo ag ithe clann òg agus uain: that this creature would eat young children and lambs; na bu dàna na càch: bolder than the others; chuir e roimhe a’ bhiast eagallach seo a chur an grèim: he decided to capture this fearful beast.

Puing-chànain na Litreach: gun robh biast-uisge air choreigin a’ fuireach anns an loch fhèin: that some water beast or other was living in the loch itself. Air choreigin is a useful phrase – try using it! Here are some other examples: aig àm air choreigin ‘at some time or another’; bha peata air choreigin aca – ach cù no cat no coineanach, chan eil cuimhne a’m dè bh’ ann ‘they had some pet or other – but dog or cat or rabbit, I can’t remember what it was.’

Gnàthas-cainnt na Litreach: chaidh e an laigse : he fainted.

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Litir do Luchd-ionnsachaidh

This letter corresponds to Tha an Litir seo a’ buntainn ri An Litir Bheag 740

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