24/10/2005

Bha mi ag innse dhuibh an t-seachdain sa chaidh mu na Leathanaich ann an Srath Ghlais. Bha iad air oighreachd ceann-cinnidh nan Siosalach. Thuirt an Siosalach gu robh iad ri buidseachd. Dh’aontaich a’ Chomhairle Dhìomhair ann an Dùn Èideann coimisean a stèidheachadh. Bha an coimisean a’ dol a sgrùdadh a’ ghnothaich. Bha an Siosalach fhèin, a bhràthair agus co-oghaichean aca air a’ choimisean.

Tha e inntinneach coimhead air na h-ainmean a bh’ air na Leathanaich. Bha “Maclean” air cuid. Ach air feadhainn eile bha dìreach sloinnidhean. Mar eisimpleir Janet nighean Ruairidh Bhuidhe agus Katherine nighean Eòghainn mhic Coinnich.

Chaidh na Leathanaich don cheann-chinnidh acasan. Bha iad ag iarraidh taic. B’ e an ceann-cinnidh acasan Sir Ailean MacIlleathain à Dubhaird, ann am Muile. Chuir esan tagradh don Chomhairle Dhìomhair. Bha casaidean aige an aghaidh an t-Siosalaich. Thuirt e gun robh gràin aig an t-Siosalach air na Leathanaich. Bha an Siosalach ag iarraidh na daoine sin fhuadachadh. Ach cha deach leis.

Thuirt MacIlleathain gun deach geur-leanmhainn a dhèanamh air na Leathanaich. Thuirt e gun do “dh’aidich” iad gu robh iad ri buidseachd, dìreach às dèidh a bhith a’ fulaing sa phrìosan.

Thug bàillidh à Inbhir Nis sùil air an fheadhainn a bha ag ràdh gun do dh’fhuiling iad sa phrìosan. B’ esan Fionnladh Friseal. Thug e sùil gheur orra. Bha e a’ feuchainn ri comharra fhaicinn orra de droch làimhseachadh. Cha do lorg e dad.

Dè thachair, ma-thà, do “bhuidsichean is bana-bhuidsichean” Shrath Ghlais? Chaochail feadhainn dhiubh sa phrìosan. Chaochail an fheadhainn nach do dh’aidich gu robh iad ri buidseachd. Ach an fheadhainn a dh’aidich –fhuair iadsan dheth. Cha robh an coimisean air a stèidheachadh a-rithist.

A bheil cuimhne agaibh air MacPheadrais? Dh’aithris mi mu dheidhinn an t-seachdain sa chaidh. B’ esan am fear a bha a’ “dearbhadh” gu robh duine ri buidseachd. Bha e a’ stobadh prìne ann. Tha mi ag ràdh “fear”, ach tha e coltach nach e fear a bh’ ann. ’S e boireannach a bh’ ann, le aodach fir oirre. Nach neònach e?

Faclan is abairtean: mu na Leathanaich ann an Srath Ghlais: about the Macleans in Strathglass; thuirt an Siosalach gu robh iad ri buidseachd: Chisholm said they were involved in witchcraft; dh’aontaich a’ Chomhairle Dhìomhair ann an Dùn Èideann coimisean a stèidheachadh: the Privy Council in Edinburgh agreed to set up a commission; co-oghaichean: cousins; air feadhainn eile bha dìreach sloinnidhean: others were named only by their patronymics; Katherine nighean Eòghainn mhic Coinnich: Katherine the daughter of Ewen, son of Kenneth (this is her sloinneadh); b’ e an ceann-cinnidh acasan Sir Ailean MacIlleathain à Dubhaird, ann am Muile: their clan chief was Sir Allan Maclean of Duart, in Mull; bha casaidean aige an aghaidh an t-Siosalaich: he laid [had] charges against Chisholm ; gràin: hate; bha an Siosalach ag iarraidh na daoine sin fhuadachadh: Chisholm wanted to clear those people [from his land]; cha deach leis: he didn’t succeed; gun deach geur-leanmhainn a dhèanamh air na Leathanaich: that the Macleans were persecuted; gun do “dh’aidich” iad: that they “admitted”; dìreach às dèidh a bhith a’ fulaing sa phrìosan: only after suffering in prison; bàillidh: baillie; thug X sùil gheur air Y: X closely examined Y; bha e a’ feuchainn ri comharra fhaicinn orra de droch làimhseachadh: he was trying to find a mark on them of [which showed] ill-treatment; cha do lorg e dad: he found nothing; dè thachair, ma-thà?: what happened, then?; chaochail feadhainn dhiubh sa phrìosan: some of them died in prison; nach do dh’aidich gu robh iad air a bhith ri buidseachd: who did not admit that they had been involved in witchcraft; an fheadhainn a dh’aidich –fhuair iadsan dheth: the ones who admitted [it] – they got off; a bheil cuimhne agaibh air MacPheadrais?: do you remember Paterson?; b’ esan am fear a bha a’ “dearbhadh”: he was the man who was “proving”; bha e a’ stobadh prìne ann: he was sticking a pin in; ’s e boireannach a bh’ ann, le aodach fir oirre: he was a woman, in man’s clothing; nach neònach e?: isn’t it [that] strange?