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30/04/2007

Tha litir bheag na seachdain aig Ruairidh MacIlleathain.

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An Litir Bheag 102

O chionn fhada bha fear ann air an robh Calum Beag mar ainm. Bha e beag ach làidir. Bha e a’ fuireach ann an Àird Chlach. Bha taigh aige faisg air Uisge Èireann – the Findhorn River. Bha an taigh far a bheil an talamh àrd a’ tòiseachadh.

Ann am Beurla ’s e an t-ainm a th’ air an àite – The Streens no Streens of Findhorn. Seo na sgrìobh an sàr-eòlaiche, Uilleam MacBhàtair: Na Srianaibh, the Streens of Findhorn, the Bridles ... a graphic and appropriate name for this remarkable gorge. ’S e Na Srianan a chanas sinn ris an àite ann an Gàidhlig an-diugh. Seo na th’ aig Iain Mac an Tàilleir air an liosta aige de dh’ainmean-àite (a th’ air an eadar-lìon): Na Srianan. “The Restraint” referring to narrows in the River Findhorn.

Co-dhiù, air ais gu Calum Beag. Nuair a bha e òg, bha e ag obair aig Caisteal Chaladair. Bha e ag obair mar bhuachaille. Latha a bha seo, bha e a’ buachailleachd treud de chrodh Gàidhealach. Thàinig ceatharnaich a-nuas air. Chuir iad an grèim e. Thòisich na ceatharnaich air slighe gu taobh an iar na Gàidhealtachd. Bha Calum còmhla riutha. Dè bha e a’ dol a dhèanamh?

Uill, bha breacan air. Breacan de sheòrsa àraidh. Bha a h-uile duine anns an sgìre eòlach air breacan Chaluim. Reub e dheth pìosan beaga dhen bhreacan. Leig e don talamh iad. Cha robh fios aig na ceatharnaich gun robh e a’ dèanamh sin.

An ath latha bha muinntir Chaladair a’ coimhead airson a’ chruidh. Lorg fear pìos breacain. Bha fios aige gur e pìos de bhreacan Chaluim a bh’ ann. Lorg cuideigin eile dàrna pìos. Mar sin lean iad an rathad a ghabh Calum is na ceatharnaich.

Lorg iad iad ann an ceann shuas Srath Èireann. Bha na ceatharnaich agus Calum nan suidhe ann an lagan. Bha iad a’ ròstadh mart. Fhuair muinntir Chaladair an crodh air ais. Fhuair Calum Beag duais bhon uachdaran.

Nuair a chaochail a phàrantan, fhuair Calum an taigh aca anns na Srianan. Bha sin ann an àite air a bheil Straneorn ann am Beurla. Tha mi a’ dèanamh dheth gur e sin Srath an Eòrna. Phòs Calum tè bhon talamh ìosal. Ach bha i gu math dìleas dha. Agus thòisich Calum air a bhith na cheatharnach e fhèin. Ghoid e iomadh mart. Bheir sinn sùil a bharrachd air a bheatha anns an ath Litir.

Faclan is abairtean

Faclan is abairtean: O chionn fhada: a long time ago; bha fear ann air an robh Calum Beag mar ainm: there was a man who was named Wee Calum; Àird Chlach: Ardclach; Uisge Èireann: Findhorn River; far a bheil an talamh àrd a’ tòiseachadh: where the high ground starts; seo na sgrìobh an sàr-eòlaiche: here’s what the expert wrote; a chanas sinn ris an àite: which we call the place; Caisteal Chaladair: Cawdor Castle; bha e ag obair mar bhuachaille: he was working as a herdsman; a’ buachailleachd treud de chrodh Gàidhealach: tending a herd of Highland cattle; thàinig ceatharnaich a-nuas air: caterans (freebooters) came down upon him; chuir iad an grèim e: they captured him; air slighe gu taobh an iar na Gàidhealtachd: on a route to the West Highlands; còmhla riutha: along with them; breacan de sheòrsa àraidh: a plaid of an unusual type; reub e dheth: he ripped off; a’ coimhead airson a’ chruidh: looking for the cattle; lorg cuideigin eile dàrna pìos: somebody else found a second piece; lean iad an rathad a ghabh Calum is na ceatharnaich: they followed the route that Calum and the caterans took; ceann shuas Srath Èireann: the upper part of Strathdearn; nan suidhe ann an lagan: sitting in a hollow; a’ ròstadh mart: roasting a stirk; duais bhon uachdaran: a reward from the laird; nuair a chaochail a phàrantan: when his parents died; tha mi a’ dèanamh dheth: I reckon; phòs Calum tè bhon talamh ìosal: Calum married a woman from the low country; bha i gu math dìleas dha: she was very loyal to him; thòisich Calum air a bhith na cheatharnach, e fhèin: Calum started to be a cateran himself; ghoid e iomadh mart: he stole many cows.

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Tha gach Litir Bheag an seo / All the Little Letters are here.

Podcast: An Litir Bheag

The Little Letter for Gaelic Learners

An Litir Bheag air LearnGaelic

An Litir Bheag is also on LearnGaelic (with PDFs)

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