Blair Collection > How to learn Gaelic

75
NOTES ON SPECIFIC READINGS.
Page 57, line IS—" Ailein-an-Earrachd" — Allan Cameron of Eracht
in Lochaber, who raised the 79bh Regiment, known as the Cameron
Highlanders.
Page 61, line 17 — " Marsali Mhur agus na buanaichean." This
refers to the time when it was customary for Highland shearers to go
to the South countrj' to the harvest.
Page 63, line 16 — " Bodach nam Brigisean" — The name of a well-
known pipe tune.
Page 63, line 19—" Mac-Iain-Abraich" — The patronymic of Maclean
of Coll.
Page 64, line 28— "Clag Sgàin"— The bell of Scone. As with
Whittington and the bells of London, the Highland people interpreted
the message of the bell of Scone thus— "An rud nach buin duit na
buin da" — " Mind your own business."
Page 64, line 33—" Tigh Eoghain Oig." " Etighan Og" was one of
the noms-de-jjì nme of Lachlan Maclean, one of the principal con-
tributors to the " Teachdaire Gàidhealach."
Page 64, line 38 — " Mo chuilean" — A common term of endearment.
Page 6.3, line 2 — " Murchadh agus Mionachag." In some versions
the male actor is called Murachan. There may possibly be the shadow
of a moral in the piece, Murachan being the well-doing person, from
" murrach," thrijty ; while the name Mionachag may be from
" mionach," and thus a personification of grted.
Page 70, line 26 — " Oidhche na Callainne" — Hogmanay night.
" Callainn" or "Collainn" is the Latin word " Calendiv," the first of
the month.
Page 72, line 2—" Mac Og an larla Ruaidh." This exquisite
ballad appeared in " Albyn's Anthology," accompanied with the
following very free rendering by Sir Walter Scott • —
Nora's Yow.
Hear what Highland Nora said— "The swan." she said, " the lake's clear
" The Earlies son I will not wed, May barter for the eagle's nest ; [breast
Should aU the race of nature die, The Awe's fierce stream may backward turn
And none be left but he and I. Ben-Cruachan fall and crush KUchuru ;
For all the gold, for aU the gear, Our kilted clans, when blood is hiirli,
And all the lands both far and near, Before their foes may turn ana fly :
That ever valour lost or won, But 1, were all these marvels aone,
1 would not wed the Earlie s son. " Would never wed the Earlie's son.'
" A maiden's vows," old Galium spoke, Still in the water-lily's shade,
" Are lightly made and lightly broke ; Her wonted nest the wild-swan made ;
The heather on the mountain's height Ben-Cruachan stands as fast as ever,
Begins to bloom in puri^le light ; Still downward foams the Awe's fierce river ;
The frost- wind soon shall sweep away To shini the clash of foeman'.s steel.
That lusti-e deep from glen and bi-ae ; No HIkIiVui'I l)r..yne has turned the heel ;
Yet Nora, ere its bloom be gone, But X. i i ^ li ii t i> lost and won —
May blithely wed the Earlie's son. She'.> ui d.ul t- the Earlie's son.