Alexander Carmichael and the Napier Commission (2)
There are islands called Heisgeir to the west of North Uist. I heard
oral tradition in Uist that Heisgeir was at one time linked to North
Uist. Now, there is a big channel between them.
Alexander Carmichael has an account of Heisgeir in the Napier
Commission’s report. He gave the islands three Gaelic names – Heisgeir,
Teisgeir and Aoisgeir. He wrote that it is the third name that is most
meaningful. Aoisgeir – isthmus rock. The word
aoidh means an isthmus.
Carmichael wrote that there was once an isthmus between Heisgeir and
Uist. The land became sea-fords. The sea-fords disappeared and then
there was a shallow channel there (with a sandy bottom).
Carmichael also wrote that
aoidh
is the basis of Ì Chaluim Chille [Iona]. He was of the opinion that the
name of the island at one time was Aoidh Chaluim Chille. Iona and Mull
were connected by an isthmus.
It would be difficult to deny that entirely. I’ve sailed twice through
the Sound of Iona and it is shallow. There are sandbanks which are
constantly shifting.
But back to Heisgeir. Alasdair Carmichael tells an old story about it.
On a summer’s day a long time ago, a few of the island people went to
Shillay to shear sheep. The men landed the women on Shillay. The men
went to a skerry to hunt seals. However, they didn’t tie up the boat as
they should and it left with the wind and the tide.
The women had no boat with which to save the men. The tide was coming in.
The women in Shillay were shouting. A women on Heisgeir itself heard them.
That woman made a big effort. She dragged a boat down the shore. She
floated it on the channel. But she wasn’t quick enough. The men were swept
from the skerry by great Atlantic waves. Their wives were watching but they
couldn’t do anything to save them.
Alasdair MacIlleMhìcheil agus Coimisean Napier (2)
Tha eileanan, air a bheil Heisgeir mar ainm, gu siar air Uibhist a Tuath.
Chuala mi beul-aithris ann an Uibhist gun robh Heisgeir uaireigin
ceangailte ri Uibhist a Tuath. A-nise, tha caolas mòr ann eatarra.
Tha cunntas mu Heisgeir aig Alasdair MacIlleMhìcheil ann an aithisg
Choimisean Napier. Thug e trì ainmean Gàidhlig do na h-eileanan – Heisgeir,
Teisgeir agus Aoisgeir. Sgrìobh e gur e an treas ainm am fear as
ciallaiche. Aoisgeir – isthmus rock. Tha am facal aoidh
a’ ciallachadh tairbeart no dòirlinn.
Sgrìobh MacIlleMhìcheil gun robh aoidh ann eadar Heisgeir is Uibhist
uaireigin. Dh’fhalbh an talamh gu bhith nam fadhlaichean. Dh’fhalbh na
fadhlaichean agus an uair sin bha caolas eu-domhainn ann (le grunnd
gainmhich).
Sgrìobh MacIlleMhìcheil cuideachd gur e aoidh bunait ainm Eilean Ì no Ì
Chaluim Chille. Bha e dhen bheachd gur e Aoidh Chaluim Chille a bha air an
eilean mar ainm aig aon àm. Bha Ì agus Muile ceangailte ri chèile le aoidh.
Bhiodh e doirbh a dhol às àicheadh sin gu tur. Tha mi air seòladh dà thuras
tro Chaolas Ì agus tha e eu-domhainn. Tha oitirean ann a bhios a’ gluasad
fad na h-ùine.
Ach air ais gu Heisgeir. Tha Alasdair MacIlleMhìcheil ag innse seann
naidheachd mu dheidhinn. Air latha samhraidh o chionn fhada, chaidh grunn
de mhuinntir an eilein gu ruige Siolaigh airson caoraich a rùsgadh. Chuir
na fir na boireannaich air tìr ann an Siolaigh. Dh’fhalbh na fir gu sgeir
airson ròin a shealg. Ge-tà, cha do cheangail iad an eathar mar bu chòir
agus dh’fhalbh i leis a’ ghaoith ʼs leis an t-sruth.
Cha robh bàta aig na boireannaich airson na fir a shàbhaladh. Bha a’ mhuir
a’ lìonadh. Bha na boireannaich ann an Siolaigh ag èigheachd. Chuala
boireannach air Heisgeir fhèin iad. Rinn an tè sin spàirn mhòr. Tharraing i
eathar sìos an cladach. Chuir i air bhog sa chaolas i. Ach cha robh i luath
gu leòr. Chaidh na fir a sguabadh far na sgeire le tuinn mhòra a’ Chuain
Siar. Bha am mnathan gan coimhead ach cha b’ urrainn dhaibh dad a dhèanamh
airson an sàbhaladh.
