An Comunn Gàidhealach Publications > Gaidheal > Volume 26, October 1930--September 1931

20
AN gaidheal.
An t-Samhuin, 1930.
Keeping in view the high repute of the
Cistercians as farmers it is not, I think,
unreasonable to believe that their example
and precept in methods of cultivation was
an influence of no mean potency, and that
the Macdonald period in Kintyre, in spite
of the hindrances inseparable from Clan
economy, had already witnessed agrestic
advance which distinguished Kintyre from
other regions in Argyll unblessed with
monastic instruction. It may be too that
the art of distillation, so prominent an
economic feature of Kintyre, was derived
from the knowledge of the Monks. The only
surviving evidence of the agricultural
operations of the Monks of Saddell is, it
fortunately happens, safely housed in the
Public Museum of Campbeltown. Some
years ago a Quern was discovered on the
island of Davaar, which was part of the Abbey
lands, and the relation of the Quern to
the Abbey is testified by the carvings on
the upper stone of the Quern, which itself
is of the porphyry of Davaar island. Mr.
MacKinlay, the Curator of the Museum,
thus describes the Quern: “It is one of the
finest and most perfect to be seen. It is
unique in appearance, having four crosses in
relief and four raised edges. There are four
holes for pins in relation to the semi-circular
movement for grinding. The grain hole is
finely moulded, also in relief. The size of
the hole is 2£ inches, and the diameter of
the stones is 15f by 4| inches in thickness.’’
(To be continued.)
—£
TIGHEARNA CHOLLA IS
BU I DSICH EAN BHARRA.
Bha Tighearna Cholla fada ’ga sharachadh
le buidsichean Bharra, agus mu dheireadh
bha e air a chur chuige cho dona leo is gu’n
robh e ’na chunnart dha eadhoin a chas a chur
anns a’ bhirlinn, no dol taobh sam bith far
am biodh onfhadh thonn no frionas gaoithe
a’ bagairt air a bheatha a thoirt dheth. Cha
b’e Tighearna Cholla a mhain a bha anns a’
chunnart so ri linn gach oidhirp a rinn na
buidsichean gu a bheatha a thoirt dheth.
Bha “ Am Beithire Rumach,” mar a leigeas
am far-ainm leis an do chrunadh e, ris, cho
gailbheach gu dlreadh stuadh ’s a dh’fhag
cala, no a chuir rudha mara fo sgod, ach fathast
fhuair na buidsichean Barrach suas ris agus
b’ann an grunnd a’ chuain a bha a leaba an
oidhche sin. Eadar dha sgeul, nach ann a
shaoil iadsan gur e Tighearna Cholla a bha
aca air an Linne Rumaich an uair a bha iad
ag cur nan ubag mu bhior-snaois na fardaich
a bha fo chois a’ Bheithire, agus is e sin a
b’aobhar gu’n d’fhuair Tighearna Cholla beagan
foise car sealain ’na dheidh sin. Tha so a’
leigeil ris ged a bha cumhachd nam buidsichean
mor nach robh e idir gun gharadh-criche a
bhi air a chur ris, agus nach robh iad air chor
sam bith os cionn a bhi air am mealladh aig
am no ameiginn.
Ach an uair a fhuair Tighearna Cholla beagan
faochaidh bho na buidsichean Barrach, cha
robh esan an run iadsan fhagail aig saorsa
an toile fein, gun a bhi a’ toirt rioba as an
dosain an drasd ’s a rithisd mar a bha e ’na
chomas. Is e a thachair, math, latha de na
laithean, is gun iadsan ’nan umhail, ach gu’n
do chuir Tighearna Cholla gu saile, agus ciod
a’ cheart chearn air an do leag e srbn na birlinn
ach Barra, agus mu’n robh fios aig na buid¬
sichean mar a bha, bha birlinn Thighearna
Cholla aig laimhrig am Bagh a’ Chaisteil,
Tighearna Cholla air tlr is ceum aotrom aige
suas an traigh. Ach ma fhuair e Colla fhagail
gun na buidsichean ’ga thoirt fainear, cha
robh e fada am Barra gun an sgeul a dhol
air iteig, agus bha cheana fada-cruaidh ’san
airde ’n lar ’s na frasan ag crmnneachadh a’
toirt deagh earlas nach robh iadsan a nis ’nan
tamh, gu’n robh a’ chuid a b’ fhearr de’n latha
air dol seachad agus gu’n robh a shop ’s a
theannadh a’ feitheamh air Mac Iain Abraich
an am dha tilleadh.
An uair a bha Tighearna Cholla a’ togail
suas bho bhil na tuinne, bha an sud seann
bhean anns an traigh, agus ged nach do shaoil
ise e, is math a dh’aithnich suil Mhic Iain
Abraich nach b’aon eile a’ chailleach ach
“ Cas a’ Mhogain Stiallaich,” sar cheann
feadhna nam buidsichean Barrach, agus an
dubh namhaid a bu mhotha a bha aige fein
eadar am Buta Leodhasach agus am ploc
a b’fhaide mach de’n Rinn Rich.
“ Tha i frasach a bhean,” arsa Tighearna
ChoUa.
“ An sgeul a tha aig an tir uile chan fhiach
i a h-aithris ! ” arsa Cailleach a’ Mhogain.
“ Cha mhiosad, ged nach faod gur fheairrd
na’s mo, sgeul a h-ath-aithris,” arsa Tighearna
Cholla ; “ ach,” arsa esan, “ is e a’ chuis, ciod
an seorsa latha a tha sinn a’ dol a dh’fhaotainn
anns a’ chorr dhe, ma chuireas sinn gu cuan ? ”
“ Bidh faochadh agad eadar na frasan! ”
arsa ise.
“ Is math am faochadh sin fein,” arsa esan ;
“ ach is e a’ chuis, ciod a thachras an uair a
bhios na frasan f&n ag cur air bhoil a’ chuain ? ”