Fògradh, Fàisneachd, Filidheachd Page 11

  An dèidh sin, chuireadh an seann duine,Iain Sutharlan, am prìosan an Dòrnoch ach thug a’ Bhan-Iarla a mach e, gidheadh b’èiginn da an dùthaich fhàgail agus dol gu Ameireaga. Thàinig e gu Abhainn Bhàrnaidh am Pictou far an rohh e beò gus an do ràinig e aois ciad bliadhna agus còig. ’S e ’n t-ainm fo’n robh e aithnichte san dùthaich so “Bodach an fhèilidh” no Iain Sutharlan an fhèilidh. Fhuair e ’m bàs air a’ bhliadhna 1840.

  (7 January 1893)

  Sutherland 7

  When Patrick Sellar was brought before the Law Lords he was accused of the following:

  1. Fire-raising, by setting fire to a poor man’s house, barn and other buildings, which led to the man’s distress and death.

  2. Knocking down and demolishing a mill where the people were grinding their meal.

  3. Setting fire to the heath before the proper time, thus destroying what fed the animals in the spring.

  4. Demolishing houses in which frail old people were bed-ridden; a thing that put their lives in danger and shortened the lifespan of some of them.

  5. Knocking down and demolishing barns, sheepcotes and kilns where the tenants hardened the grain for meal.

  6. Many other lesser charges.

  In a letter written by Sheriff Robert MacKid to Lord Stafford, telling how he had to arrest Patrick Sellar and take him to court, he says: “It is seldom that any country was ever disgraced so much by such numerous and awful crimes committed by one man; and it is seldom that the courts of Scotland have been soiled by such.”

  Although Sellar got away from court without being sentenced, the Duchess nevertheless bade farewell to himself and Mr. Young, so they were no longer her managers or factors. She then called on Mr. Loch, Member of Parliament for the free burghs of the north, to be the Senior Manager, with Mr. Suttar as his assistant. Alas, this change was not of benefit or freedom for the poor people of Sutherland. It was like going from the embers into the burning fire. The new factors continued the process of depopulation, in the footsteps of Sellar and Mr. Young. They sent out arsonists with torches and three hundred houses could be seen in flames at the same time. Many of the small tenants were driven out of their houses in 1819 and 1820.

  It was at this time that John Sutherland, of the kilt, came to Barney’s River in Pictou. He and his two sons and three daughters came over that year. Angus MacKay, who was an elder at Barney’s River, was married to Muriel, the youngest daughter of Kilted John. He came from the district of Clyne where Mr. Walter Ross was a minister. He was often heard telling funny stories about this minister who was more interested in recreation than in preaching. At certain times after the sermons he would give advance notice to the congregation, saying: “If tomorrow is wet we will have a prayer meeting in the church. If it is dry we will be chasing the foxes.”

  The ministers that the Patron foisted on the people of Sutherland against their will were mediocre and run-of-the-mill. Therefore they were of little benefit to the people. They allowed the big red Fox that they should be pursuing to ruin the flock and rip it apart.

  (7 Faoilleach 1893)

  Cataibh 7

  Nuair a thugadh Pàdraig Sellar air beulaibh nam Morairean b’iad so na nithean a chuireadh às a leth mar chionta.

  1. Cur a mach teine, le losgadh taigh duine bhochd, maille ri shabhal, agus taighean eile, a bha ’na aobhar air trioblaid agus bàs a thoirt air.

  2. Leagail agus cur às a cheile muilinn, far am bidh an tuath a’ bleith an cuid mine.

  3. Cur teine ris an fhraoch roimh an àm, nì a bha ’na chall da’n tuath, le bhi milleadh nan nithean air am biodh an sprèidh a’ beathachadh san earrach.

  4. Leagail thaighean anns an robh seann mhuinntir bhreòite air an leabaidh; nì a chuir am beatha ann an cunnart,agus a thaobh dream àraidh a rinn an làithean a ghiorrachadh.

  5. Leagail sìos agus cur às a cheile Shaibhlean, thaighean chaorach, agus àthannan far am biodh an tuath a’ cruadhachadh an sìl air son mine.

  6. Mòran de choireannaibh eile na bu lugha.

  Ann an litir a sgrìobh an Siorramh Raibeard MacKid a dh’ionnsaidh Morair Stafford, ag innseadh mar a b’èiginn da Pàdraig Sellar a ghlacadh agus a thoirt gu cùirt, tha e ag ràdh, “Is ainmig a bha dùthaich sam bith riamh air a maslachadh le eucoirean bu lìonmhoire, agus a b’uamhasaiche, a rinneadh le aon duine; agus is ainmig a bha cùirtean na h-Alba air an salachadh le ’n leithid sin.”

  Ged a fhuair Sellar às bho’n chùirt gun a bhi air a dhìteadh, gidheadh thug a’ Bhan-Iarla cead da fhèin agus do Mhr. Young, air chor as nach robh iad tuilleadh ’nam Fir-ghnothaich, no ’nam Factoran aice. Ghairm i an sin air Mr. Loch, Fear-Pàrlamaid air son nan saor-bhailtean Tuathach, gu bhi ’na Ard-fhear-gnothuich, agus maille ris-san bha Mr. Suttar, mar fhear-cobhair fo a làimh. Ach mo thruaighe! Cha robh an t-atharrachadh so chum feum no saorsa do na Cataich bhochd. Cha robh e dhaibh ach mar às a’ ghrìosaich da’n àmhainn theintich. Oir lean na Factoran ùra air obair an Di-làrachaidh, ann an cas-cheumaibh Shellair agus Mhr. Young. Chuir iad a mach luchd-losgaidh le leusan teine agus chìteadh trì chiad taigh ’nan lasraichean aig an aon àm. Chuireadh mòran de’n tuath bheag a mach às an taighean air a’ bhliadhna 1819 agus air a’ bhliadhna 1820.

  B’ ann mu ’n àm so a chuireadh air falbh Iain Sutharlan, an fhèilidh, a thàinig gu Abhainn Bhàrnaidh ann am Pictou. Thàinig e fhèin, agus dà mhac, maille ri triùir nighean, a nall air a’ bhliadhna sin. Bha Aonghas MacAoidh, a bha ’na èildear aig Abhhainn Bhàrnaidh, pòsda ri Muireall, an nighean a b’òige aig Bodach an Fhèilidh. Thàinig e à Sgìreachd Chline far an robh Mr Bhaltair Ros ’na mhinistear. Is minig a chualas e ag aithris sgialachdan àbhachdach mu thimcheall a’ mhinisteir so a bha na bu dèidheile air spòrs na bha e air searmonachadh. Aig amannan àraid an dèidh nan searmoin bheireadh e fios-rabhaidh do’n t-sluagh, ag ràdh: “Ma bhios an latha màireach fliuch bidh coinneamh ùrnuigh againn anns an Eaglais: ach ma bhios e tioram bidh sinn a’ ruith ’s a’ ruagadh an t-sionnaich.”

  Cha robh ach ministearan meadhonach, cuibheasach, anns an fheadhainn a bha am Patron a’ fòirneadh agus a’ sparradh a stigh a dh’aindeoin air an t-sluagh ann an Cataibh. Uime sin cha d’ rinn iad mòran feum do’n phobull. An Sionnach mòr ruadh a bu chòir dhaibh a bhi a’ ruith ’s a’ ruagadh, bha iad a’ leigeil leis a bhi a’ milleadh agus a’ reubadh an treud.

  (14 January 1893)

  Sutherland 8

  If Patrick Sellar was an ogre who frightened women out of their senses, Mr. Loch who replaced him was no better than him. It was during his regime that the largest number of Sutherland people in Pictou came across the ocean. They settled at Barney’s River, Gairloch, Matheson Mountain and Earltown, as well as other different locations. Many of them came across between 1819 and 1831. At that time Lord Ramsay, the Earl of Dalhousie, was the Governor of the British territories in North America. It was for him that the Sutherland people gave the name Earltown to the new place in which they settled, on the southwest side of Pictou, in the county of Colchester. The place was a deserted forest without inhabitants until those people came over from Sutherland. But it was to their benefit, and especially to that of their descendants, that they got sanctuary in this new country. Bold men and erudite, ingenious scholars were reared in Earltown. Many were dedicated preachers of the gospel and others were doctors and lawyers.

  George Gunn was with Mr. Loch as an assistant in the management of the state of the Duchess of Sutherland. They controlled the people with a rod of iron. It was Mr. Loch’s intent, as he himself declared, that he would “not be satisfied until Gaelic and the Gaels were torn from their roots and every trace of them eradicated from the soil of Sutherland and from all of the Highlands also.” Despite him and despite the Devil who was his master this has not yet happened. Though Mr. Loch’s corrupt and corpulent body has been eaten by the beetles and maggots of the earth, Gaelic and the Gaels are still extant in Sutherland. One of them, Angus
Sutherland, son of a Sutherland crofter, represents the County in the British Parliament. Even if Mr. Loch were to rise from the dead, as a horrid monster from the bottomless pit, he and the Duke of Sutherland would not dare to banish a single Gael from the country today, even if he wished to do so. But he made the land into a wilderness while he was on earth.

  In the eight years between 1812 and 1820 all of the glens and straths of the county of Sutherland were depopulated and abandoned as forlorn wastelands, where you cannot hear a human voice singing praise to God, though the land was once full of people who were happy, peaceful and comfortable, as godly folk who were genial and benign to each other. They had cattle, sheep, crops and everything that was useful for their daily lives. Regrettably, today you can only see senseless beasts, deer and sheep on the bens and in the fertile straths of the glens where Christ’s people used to gather to worship the Lord of Glory.

  (14 Faoilleach 1893)

  Cataibh 8

  Ma bha Pàdraig Sellar ’na chulaidh uamhais a’ cur mhnathan Chataibh à cochull an cridhe leis an eagal roimhe, cha b’e Mr. Loch a thàinig ’na àite idir a b’fheàrr na esan : oir b’ann ri linn a riaghlaidh-san a thàinig a nall thar a’ chuain a’ chuid a’s mò de na bheil ri fhaotainn de mhuinntir Chataibh ann am Pictou. Shuidhich iad aig Abhainn Bhàrnaidh, Geàrrloch, Beinn nam Mathanach, agus Baile-an-Iarla, (Earltown), maille ri àitean eile thall ’s a bhos. Thàinig mòran diubh a nall eadar na bliadhnachan 1819 agus 1831. Aig an àm so bha Morair Ramsaidh, Iarla Dalhousie, ’na Ard-Riaghladair air na Mòr-roinnean Breatannach ann an Aimereaga Tuath; agus air a shon-san thug na Cataich Baile-an-Iarla mar ainm air an àite ùr anns an do shuidhich iad, aig taobh siar-dheas Phictou, ann an siorramachd Cholchester. Bha an t-àite ’na choilltich fhàsail gun duine a’ còmhnaidh ann gus an d’thàinig iad so a naIl à Cataibh. Ach bu mhath dhaibh-san, agus gu h-àraid is math d’an sliochd gun d’thàinig iad agus gun d’fhuair iad fasgadh anns an dùthaich ùir so. Chaidh daoine tapaidh, sgoilearan foghlaimte, geur-inntinneach, àrach ann am Baile-an-Iarla ; agus tha mòran diubh ’nam ministearaibh foghainteach an t-soisgeil, agus cuid eile ’nan lighichibh agus ’nan luchd lagha.

  Maille ri Mr. Loch bha Seòras Guinneach ’na fhear-cuideachaidh ann an riaghladh oighreachd na Ban-Iarla Chataich ; agus ma bhà, b’ann le slait iarainn a bha iad a’ smachdachadh an t-sluaigh. Oir b’e rùn Mhr. Loch mar a bha e a’ cur an cèill, “Nach biodh e riaraichte gus am biodh a’ Ghàidhlig agus na Gàidheil air an spìonadh às am freumhaichean, agus gach bun us bàrr dhiubh air an dìtheachadh a mach à fonn Chataibh, seadh agus a’ Ghàidhealtachd gu h-iomlan mar an ceudna.” Ach ge b’oil leis fhèin agus leis an Diabhal a mhaighstir cha do thachair so fhathast. Agus ged a tha corp truaillidh, bronnach Mhr. Loch air itheadh suas, le daolagan agus cnuimhean an duslaich, tha a’ Ghàidhlig agus na Gàidheil fhathast beò ann an Cataibh, agus tha fear dhiubh fhèin Aonghus Sutharlan, mac croiteir Cataich, ’na Riochdaire air son na Siorramachd ann am Pàrlamaid Bhreatainn. Ged a dh’èireadh Mr. Loch bho na mairbh, mar uilebheist oillteil às an t-slochd gun ìochdar, cha bhiodh a chridhe aige fhèin, no aig an Diùc Chatach, aon Ghàidheal fhògradh às an duthaich air an latha an diugh, ged a bhiodh a mhiann air sin a dhèanamh. Ach rinn e an tìr na fàsaich nuair a bha e air an talamh.

  Ann an ochd bliadhna eadar a’ bhliadhna 1812 agus1820 bha an t-iomlan de ghlinn ’s de shraithean shiorramachd Chataibh air an di-làrachadh agus air am fàgail ’nam fàsaich aonaraich, far nach cluinnear guth duine a’ seinn cliù do Dhia, ged a bha an dùthaich aon uair làn sluaigh, a bha sona sìtheil air an deagh chothrom, ’nan daoine diadhaidh gràdhach càirdeil ri chèile. Bha crodh us caoraich us arbhar a’ cinneachdainn dhaibh agus pailteas de gach nì a ta feumail air son na beatha a ta làthair. Ach mo thruaighe! Chan fhaicear an diugh ach brùidean gun chèill, fèidh agus caoirich air na beanntaibh agus air srathaibh torach nan gleann far am b’àbhaist do phoball Chriosd a bhi cruinneachadh gu adhradh a dhèanamh do Thighearna na glòire.

  (21 January 1893)

  Sutherland 9

  The poor people of Sutherland were treated mercilessly and miserably. If it was all written and told it would make a large book containing a dismal and distressing story. We have neither space nor time to describe everything that happened in this paper, but we can mention one or two examples to describe the people’s persecution and the demonic, inhumane nature of the brutal landlords who were harassing them.

  A young man named Donald MacKay was prostrate with fever and they ordered him out of the house. He went outside in turmoil and lay down in bushes for a long time as he was becoming deranged. They set the house on fire and incinerated all of his possessions. A man called Robert MacKay had a family who were suffering from fever. He had to take them out and carry them to another place. He carried two girls a distance of twenty-five miles to the seaside. He took one of them first and went a short distance with her. He then left her lying on the ground and went back for the other one. In this way, by carrying one a certain distance and then returning for the other one, he conveyed them for twenty-five miles until he reached the coast where he put them aboard a ship that was returning to Caithness after unloading a cargo of lime that it had taken to Sutherland.

  There was another old man, also named Robert Mackay, who ran away and hid in a mill which had been abandoned. He lay there unable to move until he eventually died. All he had to eat was the meal dust that he licked from the grain-hopper and the timber of the mill. He was saved by his dog from the rats and other animals that were there in abundance.

  The entire family, seven or eight, of George Munro, a miller in the district of Farr, were stricken with fever at the same time. When he had to remove them the neighbours came to help him carry them to the barn, an excessively cold and damp place where they got shelter for a while when their house was set on fire. There were some sick people whom they could not remove quickly because they were in a perilous condition, but their friends gathered them together and took them to a deserted bothy where they were left for some time. Their screams were mournful and pitiful as they shouted in anguish: “Are you going to leave us to burn in the flames?” However, the fire-raisers went past without seeing the bothy, and they were saved until they managed to carry them to the ship that was returning to Caithness.

  These are only a few examples of the frightful work that was going on, but it’s enough to show the spirit that governed these wicked, hard-hearted people. It was as if the pit of hell had been opened and the spirits of the pit let loose to harden the hearts of the landlords.

  (21 Faoilleach 1893)

  Cataibh 9

  Bu chruaidh ain-iochdmhor an obair, agus bu truagh an càramh a rinneadh air na daoinibh bochda ann an Cataibh. Nam biodh gach nì air a sgrìobhadh agus air innseadh mu thimcheall sin dhèanadh e leabhar mòr anns am biodh eachdraidh dhoineach, mhuladach. Chan eil aon chuid rùm no tìm againn gus a h-uile nì a chur an cèill anns a’ phaipeir so mar a thachair; ach faodaidh sinn samhailt no dhà ainmeachadh gu bhi foillseachadh fòirneart an t-sluaigh agus nàdar deamhna mi-dhaonna nan ain-tighearnan brùideil a bha ’gan sàrachadh.

  Bha òganach d’am b’ainm Dòmhnall MacAoidh ’na laighe ann am fiabhras agus dh’òrdaich iad a mach às an taigh e; chaidh e a mach ann am breislich agus laigh e ann am preas rè ùine mhòir agus e às a chèill. Chuir iad an taigh ri theine agus loisg iad gach nì a bhuineadh dha. Bha duine d’am b’ainm Rob MacAoidh aig an robh a theaghlach ’nan laighe leis an teasaich. B’èiginn da an toirt a mach agus an giùlan air falbh gu àit’ eile. Ghiùlain e dithis nighean da astar chòig mìle fichead a dh’ionnsaidh a’ chladaich. Thug e leis tè dhiubh an toiseach agus chaidh e air adhart astar beag leatha; chuir e sìos ’na laighe air an làr i agus thill e an sin a dh’iarraidh na tè eile. Air an dòigh so, le tè mu seach a ghiùlan astar àraid agus tilleadh a dh’iarraidh na tè eile, ghiùlain e iad còig mìle fichead gus an d’ràinig e a’ mhuir far an do chuir e iad air bòrd luinge a bha a�
� dol air a h-ais gu Gallaibh an dèidh dhi luchd aoil a chur air tìr leis an d’thàinig i gu Cataibh.

  Bha seann duine eile ann d’am b’ainm Rob MacAoidh a theich gu fhalach fhèin ann am muileann a chuireadh air chùl. Laigh e an sin gun chomas gluasaid agus mu dheireadh fhuair e am bàs ann. Cha robh de bhiadh aige ach sadach na mine, a bha e ag imlich dhe ’n treabhailt agus dhe maidean a’ mhuilinn; agus bha e air a theasairginn leis a’ chù a bha maille ris bho na radain agus na biastan eile a bha air feadh a’ mhuilinn.

  Bha an t-iomlan de theaghlach Sheòrais Munro, muillear ann an sgìreachd Farr, sianar no seachdnar, ’nan laighe aig an aon àm leis an fhiabhras. Agus nuair a b’èiginn da an cur a mach thàinig na coimhearsnaich ’ga chuideachadh gus an giùlan a dh’ionnsaidh na h-àtha, ionad funntainneach, fuaraidh, far an d’fhuair iad fasgadh rè tamaill nuair a chuireadh an taigh aca ’na theine. Bha àireamh de mhuinntir thinn nach b’urrainn iad a thoirt air falbh le cabhaig, do bhrìgh gun robh iad ann an staid chunnartach; ach thionail an càirdean iad ri chèile agus chuir iad ann am bothan uaigneach iad, far an d’fhàgadh iad rè ùine àraid. Bu chianail, muladach an sgreadail, ag èigheach a mach ’nan àmhghair, “O! am bheil sibh a’ dol ’gar fàgail gu losgadh anns na lasraichibh?” Ach chaidh na losgadairean seachad gun am bothan fhaicinn, agus mar sin theàrnadh iad, gus an d’fhuaras an giùlan a chum na luinge a bha tilleadh air ais gu Gallaibh.

  Chan eil an so ach beagan shaimpleirean de ’n obair dhèisinnich a bha dol air a h-adhart, ach is leòr e gu bhi nochdadh ciod an spiorad a bha ’g oibreachadh anns na daoinibh aingidh, cruaidh-chridheach ud. Bha e mar gum biodh sloc na h-ifrinn air fhosgladh, agus spioradan an t-sluic air an leigeil fuasgailte, gu bhi cruadhachadh cridhe nan uachdaran.