Fògradh, Fàisneachd, Filidheachd Read online

  The wretched work begun by the Duke of Atholl, and the example that he set, was repeated by the other landlords. In Strathglass the laird William Chisholm married Skinny Lizzie, the daughter of MacDonnell of Glengarry and Muzzy Marjory, in 1785, nearly a hundred years ago. Chisholm was a decrepit, frail and sickly individual, and he allowed Skinny Lizzie to run the estate as she wished. She chose to banish the people from the country.

  In the year 1801 many people embarked on a ship at Fort William, about 799 people from Strathglass, Aird of Lovat and Glenurquhart, to go to Pictou in Nova Scotia. It was at this time that the people mentioned earlier – John Grant, Robert MacIntosh, and James Chisholm the Blacksmith – came. In 1802 about 473 people were cleared from the same place and boarded a ship at Inverlochy that was on its way to Upper Canada, now called Ontario. That same year 128 people came to Pictou from Strathglass. In 1803 four groups, with 120 people in each, were cleared from Strathglass. They sailed in four separate ships to Pictou in Nova Scotia.

  Many of the immigrants from Strathglass settled in Antigonish County where their descendants still live. In the years 1801-1803 about 5,390 people were moved from Strathglass, Aird and Glenurquhart, and a large portion of them were exiled by the ruthless Elizabeth, daughter of Muzzy Marjory. On the voyage to Pictou more than fifty people died of infectious disease. When the rest reached Pictou they were kept in quarantine on a narrow promontory, where they suffered much distress, for they were not allowed to join their friends in case the disease spread throughout the land.

  It was for the love of money, the root of all evil, that the people were banished and replaced by sheep. Before Skinny Lizzie stopped the sad depopulation of Strathglass only two of the old native ethnic population remained, holding a tiny portion of land on Chisholm’s estate. When the heirs ran out, and a new heir went over from Canada, he found only these two of his clan on the estate. He brought back a few Chisholms who had found shelter in Locheil’s land in Aird. Among them was a man whose great-grandfather had been killed at the Battle of Culloden when he was carrying young Chisholm, his clan chief, who had been mortally wounded in the battle. For that his son and grandson had been given a place to live on the estate, but when hard-hearted Elizabeth came to be in charge she ousted the great-grandson. Yes, the great-grandson of the man who had lost his life trying to save that of his clan chief. But the new heir from Canada brought the man back again to the estate.

  The large Wheel of Providence has gone full circle. There is no descendant of Skinny Lizzie left in the world. Nor is there a descendant of the Lowland shepherds left in Strathglass, though it was for their sake that the people were banished from the country, so that the land would be available for the big sheep to provide pleasure and wealth for the Lowlanders. But they disappeared like the morning mist. There is indeed a God who pronounces righteous judgement on the earth.

  (Detail) James Kirkwood. 1804. By permission. National Library of Scotland [NLS shelfmark: EMS.s.74].

  (1 Dàmhair 1892)

  Srath-ghlais agus Gleann Urchadain

  Mu thoiseach a’ chiad-bhliadhna so, a tha nise faisg air an crìch, thàinig triùir dhaoine a nall à Gleann Urchadain, aig taobh-tuath Loch Nis, agus ghabh iad còmhnaidh ann an Siorramachd Phictou. B’iad na daoine sin Rob Mac an Tòisich, Iain Grannd agus Uilleam Ros.

  Ghabh Rob Mac an Tòisich agus Iain Grannd tàmh aig “Leitir-Ghrèine”, am Bràighe Glinne na h-Aibhne Mòire, no Abhainn-an-Ear Phictou, agus ghabh Uilleam Ros tuineachas air beinn àraid air an d’thug e mar ainm a’ Bheinn Ghorm. Bha dà phiuthar aig Rob Mac an Tòisich, an tè bu shine dhiubh d’am b’ainm Cairistiona, no Caitriona, agus an tè a b’òige Mairearad. Bha Cairistiona pòsta ri fear d’am b’ainm Pàdraig Grannd ann an Gleann Urchadain, nach d’thàinig idir do’n dùthaich so; agus bha Mairearad pòsta ri Iain Grannd a dh’ainmicheadh cheana. Bha nighean aig Pàdraig Grannd agus aig Cairistiona Nic an Tòisich d’am b’ainm Ciorsdan. Bha i so pòsta ri Uilleam Ros a dh’ainmicheadh mar thà, agus thàinig i do’n dùthaich so maille ris, far an do ghabh i còmhnaidh air a’ Bheinn Ghuirm trì fichead bliadhna; agus bha i ceud bliadhna ’s a trì a dh’aois nuair fhuair i am bàs, air dhi a bhi beò deich bliadhna an dèidh bàis Uilleam Rois.

  Bha ceathrar mhac aig Uilleam Ros so agus aig Cairistiona Ghrannd; b’iad sin Dòmhnall, Alasdair, Uilleam agus Pàdraig. Bha Uilleam Ros ’na èildear anns an Eaglais air a’ Bheinn Ghuirm, agus bha a thriùir mhac, Dòmhnall, Alasdair agus Pàdraig ’nan èildearan còmhla ris anns an aon seisean chiadna air a’ Bheinn Ghuirm, aig an aon àm. Fhuair Uilleam Ros am bàs air 8mh là Dec 1868, agus chaochail Dòmhnall a mhac bu shine air an 20mh là de ’n Mhàigh 1878, ach tha a dhithis mhac eile a ta ’nan èildearaibh beò fhathast; ’se sin Alasdair agus Pàdraig, gidheadh chan eil Uilleam an treas mac beò bho chionn iomadh bliadhna.

  Aig Iain Grannd agus Mairead Nic an Tòisich bha sianar mhac: Rob, Fionnlagh, Pàdraig, Uilleam, Alasdair agus Iain. Bha Rob agus Fionnlagh a’ còmhnaidh ann an Leitir-Ghrèine, far an robh an athair. Bha Pàdraig a’ còmhnaidh aig Abhainn Bhàrnaidh cho fhad ’s bu bheò e, agus bha Iain a’ tàmh aig a’ Chala Bheag far an robh e ’na èildear anns an Eaglais. Bha Fionnlagh Grannd ’na èildear anns an Eaglais aig Leitir-Ghrèine. Bha triùir mhac aige: Alasdair, Iain agus Uilleam. Tha Alasdair ’na mharsanta ann am baile Ghlascho Nomha, agus tha Iain an àite athar ’na thuathanach agus ’na èildear. Tha Uilleam Grannd, am mac a’s òige, ’na mhinistear anns an Eaglais aig Cow Bay, no Caladh nam Mart, ann an Eilean Cheap Breatainn.

  Aig Rob Mac an Tòisich bha triùir mhac: Iain, Uilleam agus Fionnlagh. Ghabh Iain còmhnaidh ann an àite ris an abrar Gàradh Edein, far an do thog e teaghlach mòr mhac agus nighean agus tha mòran diubh an sin gus an là an diugh. Bha Uilleam agus Fionnlagh a’ còmhnaidh eadar a’ Bheinn Ghorm agus Leitir-Ghrèine, far am bheil an sliochd ri fhaotainn fhathast.

  Tha iarmad nan trì daoine so, Rob Mac an Tòisich, Iain Grannd agus Uilleam Ros, lìonmhor, measail anns an dùthaich agus nan daoine cràbhach feumail anns an Eaglais. Tha an gealladh air a choilionadh dhaibh: “Mairidh tròcair Dhè do’n dream d’an eagal e, agus fhìreantachd do chloinne an cloinne-san.”

  Thàinig mar an ceudna Seumas Siosal agus ghabh e còmhnaidh làimh ri Iain Grannd agus Rob Mac an Tòisich ann an Leitir-Ghrèine. Bha Seumas Siosal so na ghobhainn agus bha teaghlach mòr aige. Bha aon d’ a mhic d’am b’ainm Eòghann, a dh’fhuirich ann an àite athar agus a thog teaghlach lìonmhor mhac agus nighean. Thàinig na daoine so uile a nall à Gleann Urchadain air a’ bhliadhna 1807, ach a mhàin Uilleam Ros nach d’thàinig gus a’ bhliadhna 1818. Bha mac aig Eòghann Siosal d’am b’ainm Seumas; agus tha am fear so a’ fuireach a nis ann an àite athar, agus a shean-athar an gobhainn. Tha fear eile mhic Eòghainn Shiosail a’ tuineachadh làimh ri Seumas air earrainn de’n fhearann a bha aig athair làimh ris an Eaglais aig Leitir-Ghrèine.

  Thàinig na daoine so nall a chionn gum b’ èiginn daibh tìr an dùthchais fhàgail, nuair a thòisich uachdarain shanntach, ain-iochdmhor, chruaidh-chridheach, ri an dùthaich a dhì-làrachadh le bhi fògradh an t-sluaigh air falbh, agus a’ cur chaorach ’nan àite airson buannachd shaoghalta agus airgead a chosnadh dhaibh fèin, agus iad coma cia dhiù ciod a thachradh do na daoinibh bochda, ged a rachadh iad fodha anns a’ chuan.

  Obair na truaighe, air an do thòisich Diùc Athaill, lean na h-uachdarain eile ’eiseimpleir ann a bhi ’ga cur air a h-adhart. Ann an Srath-ghlais phòs Uilleam Siosal an t-uachdaran Ealasaid Chaol nighean Mhic Mhic Alasdair agus Mairsili Bhinneach, air a’ bhliadhna 1795, dlùth air ciad bliadhna roimhe so. Bha an Siosalach na eirbleach breòite, euslan, agus leig e le Ealasaid Chaoil a bhi a’ riaghladh na h-oighreachd mar a thogradh i. B’e an nì a thogair ise an sluagh fhògradh às an dùthaich.

  Air a’ bhliadhna 1801 chaidh mòran dhaoine air bòrd luinge aig Gearasdan Inbhir-Lòchaidh an Lochabar, mu thimchioll 799 pearsa à Srath-ghlais, Àird Mhic Shimidh agus Gleann Urchadain, gu dol a dh’ion
nsaidh Phictou ann an Albainn Nomha. B’ann aig an àm so a thàinig na daoine a dh’ainmicheadh roimhe, Iain Grannd, Rob Mac an Tòisich, agus Seumas Siosal an Gobhainn. Anns a’ bhliadhna 1802 chuireadh air falbh às an àite chiadna mu thimcheall 473 pearsa a chaidh air luing aig Inbhir-Lòchaidh a bha dol gu Canada Uachdarach, ris an abrar a-nis Ontario; agus thàinig 128 gu Pictou air a’ bhliadhna so à Srath-ghlais. Air a’ bhliadhna 1803 chuireadh air falbh à Srath-ghlais ceithir buidhnichean, sia fichead pearsa anns gach aon de na buidhnibh, agus chaidh iad air ceithir longaibh, buidheann air gach luing, a dh’ionnsaidh Phictou an Albainn Nomha.

  Shuidhich mòran de mhuinntir Srath-ghlais ann an Siorramachd Antigonish far am bheil an sliochd a’ còmhnaidh gus an latha ’n diugh. Anns na trì bliadhna 1801-2-3 chuireadh air falbh à Srath-ghlais, An Àird agus Gleann-Urchadain mu thuaiream 5390 pearsa, agus bha àireamh mhòr dhiubh so air am fògradh le Ealasaid chruaidh nighean Mairsili Bhinnich. Bhàsaich air a’ mhuir a’ dol gu Pictou còrr agus leth-cheud pearsa le tinneas gabhaltach, agus nuair a ràinig càch Pictou bha iad air an cumail aig Long Cheathramhas (quarantine) air rudha caol fearainn, far an d’fhuiling iad mòran sàrachaidh, oir chan fhaodadh iad co-chomunn a bhi aca fèin agus an càirdean air eagal gun sgaoileadh an tinneas air feadh na dùthcha.

  Is ann air son gaol an airgid, nì is e friamh gach uilc, a bha an sluagh air am fògradh agus na caoirich air an cur ’nan àite. Mun do sguir Ealasaid Chaol de dh’obair an dì-làrachaidh bhrònaich ann an Srath-ghlais, cha d’fhàgadh ach dithis dhaoine de ’n t-seann stoc dhùthchasach, nàistinnich an àite, an seilbh air òirleach fearainn air oighreachd an t-Siosalaich. Nuair a ruith na h-oighreachan a-mach, agus a chaidh oighre ùr a nunn à Canada, cha d’fhuair e ach an dithis so de’n chinneadh aige fhèin air an oighreachd. Thug e air ais mar an ciadna beagan Shiosalach a fhuair fasgadh air fearann Mhic Shimidh san Àird. Nam measg so bha fear aig an deachaidh a shinn-seanair a mharbhadh ann am Blàr Chùil Lodair, nuair a bha e a’ giùlan an t-Siosalaich òig, a Cheann-Cinnidh, a chaidh a leòn gu bàs anns a’ bhlàr. Air son an nì so fhuair a mhac agus ogha àite-còmhnaidh air an oighreachd an dèidh sin, ach nuair a thàinig Ealasaid chruaidh gu bhi riaghladh chuir i air falbh an t-iar-ogha, seadh iar-ogha an duine a chaill a bheatha ann an teàrnadh beatha a Chinn-Cinnidh. Ach thug an t-oighre ùr à Canada air ais an duine a rìs chun na h-oighreachd.

  Tha Cuibhle mhòr an Fhreasdail air car a chur dhith mun cuairt. Chan eil duine de shliochd Ealasaid Chaoil a nis beò air uachdar an t-saoghail. Cha mhò na sin a tha duine de shliochd nan Ciobairean Gallda ri fhaotainn ann an Srath-ghlais, ged is ann air an son-san a chaidh an sluagh fhògradh às an dùthaich, gus am biodh am fearann rèidh air son nan caorach mòra chum àilgheis agus saoibhreis nan Gall. Ach dh’fhalbh iad so às an t-sealladh mar cheò na maidne. Gu cinnteach tha Dia ann a tha toirt breith air an talamh le ceartas.

  (8 October 1892)

  Glengarry

  At one time Glengarry was full of people. Six hundred soldiers from this glen followed their chief to the Battle of Culloden. In 1777 a Highland regiment was raised which had 1,086 soldiers, and 750 of them came from the Glengarry estate. The wretched work, however, started in this glen also.

  In 1788 the MacDonnell chief of that era died. He was married to Marjory Grant, daughter of Louis or Ludovic Grant of Dalbeith. She was known by the nickname Muzzy Marjory. This woman, like Jezebel, Ahab’s wife, expelled everyone from Glenquaich, which had a population of 500, so that the sheep would have a cleared space. She rented the glen to a big sluggish Lowlander from the south who filled the area with the big sheep in order to provide the greedy and merciless woman called Muzzy Marjory with plenty of meat, money and luxury. She earned a reputation and renown that will not be forgotten – not for virtue or generosity, but for arrogance, wilfulness and callousness, like Agrippina the mother of Nero, Emperor of Rome, or Athaliah the daughter of Jezebel, who killed the entire royal tribe in the city of Jerusalem when she saw that her own son Ahaziah had been killed by Jehu.

  At the time of Culloden, Glengarry had a large population of about five or six thousand people. Many of the tenants were well off. They had cattle and sheep and plenty of food and drink, but today the land is a desert inhabited by sheep and deer. Many of the people went to Canada, where they settled in a place that they called Glengarry, above the confluence of the large St. Lawrence River and the Ottawa River.

  But the big wheel turned around. Today no one of MacDonnell’s family owns a foot of the Glengarry estate. It was sold to strangers, and Lowlanders from the south bought the land, which is an empty wilderness, unless you see a shepherd with a dog dragging its tail at his heels; or a deer-forest keeper walking with his gun and looking for red grouse, moor-hens, grey-cocks and ptarmigans, as well as a partridge or hare, and a flock of deer at the top of the hills. It can be compared with Jeremiah’s lamentation that the big roads of Zion are in mourning because no one is travelling on them.

  (Detail) James Kirkwood. 1804. By permission. National Library of Scotland [NLS shelfmark: EMS.s.74].

  (8 Dàmhair 1892)

  Gleanna-Garraidh

  Bha Gleanna-Garraidh aon uair làn sluaigh. Lean sia ciad saighdear às a’ ghleann so an ceann-feadhna gu blàr Chùil-lodair. Air a’ bhliadhna 1777 chaidh rèiseamaid Ghàidhealach a thogail anns an robh 1,086 saighdear, agus bha 750 dhiubh bho oighreachd Ghlinne-Garraidh. Ach thòisich obair na truaighe anns a’ ghleann so mar an ceudna.

  Air a’ bhliadhna 1788 fhuair Mac Mhic Alasdair an latha sin am bàs. Bha e pòsta ri Marsaili Ghrannd, nighean Luthais no Mhaoldòmhnaich Ghrannd ann an Dail-Beithe, ris an canadh iad Marsaili Bhinneach mar fhar-ainm. Chuir am boireannach so, cosmhail ri Iesebel bean Ahaib, air falbh a h-uile duine a bha an Gleann-Cuaich far an robh còig ciad pearsa a’ còmhnaidh, chum gum biodh àite rèidh aig na caoirich. Thug i an gleann air mhàl do chìobair mòr slaodach Gallda bho ’n taobh deas, a lìon an t-àite leis na caoirich mhòra gu feòil agus òr agus ròic a chumail ann am pailteas ris a’ bhoireannach ghionach ain-iochdmhor sin d’am b’ainm Marsaili Bhinneach. Choisinn ise ainm agus alladh dhi fhèin nach leigear air diochuimhne, chan ann air son subhailc agus caoimhneis, ach air son àrdain, fèin-thoil agus ain-iochd, cosmhail ri Agrippina, màthair Nero, Impire na Ròimhe, no ri Ataliah nighean Iesebel, a mharbh an sliochd rìoghail uile ann am baile Ierusalem, nuair a chunnaic i gun robh Ahasiah a mac fhèin air a mharbhadh le Iehu.

  Ri linn bliadhna Theàrlaich bha sluagh lìonmhor ann an Gleanna-Garraidh, mu thimcheall còig no sia mìle pearsa. Bha mòran de ’n tuath gu math air an cothrom. Bha crodh us caoirich aca agus pailteas biadh us dibhe, ach an diugh tha an dùthaich ’na fàsaich fo chaoirich agus fo fhèidh. Chaidh mòran de ’n t-sluagh gu Canada far an do ghabh iad tuineachas ann an àite air an tug iad Gleanna-Garraidh mar ainm, eadar an abhainn mhòr St. Lawrence agus an abhainn Ottawa, os cionn comar nan aibhnichean sin.

  Ach thàinig car mun cuairt ’s a’ chuibhle mhòir. Chan eil duine de theaghlach Mhic Mhic Alasdair an diugh ann an seilbh air troigh de oighreachd Ghlinne-Garraidh. Tha an oighreachd air a reic ri coigrich, agus cheannaich Goill bho ’n taobh deas am fearann, a tha ’na fhàsaich gun duine còmhnaidh ann, mur faicear cìobair chaorach a’ falbh le cù an cùl a chas us earball a’ slaodadh ris; no forsair nam fiadh a’ falbh le ghunna a’ toirt an aire air coilich ruadha, cearcan fraoich, liath-chearcan agus tàrmachain, maille ri beagan phiartaig no chearcan tomain agus mhaigheach, agus greigh fhiadh air fireach nam beann. Faodar a ràdh mar a rinn Ieremiah tuireadh gum bheil rathaidean mòra Shion ri bròn, a chionn nach eil duine a’ siubhal orra.

  (15 October 1892)

  Knoydart

  The estate of Glengarry was sold, and in 1853 MacDonnell did not have a foot of land left except Knoydart; and now Knoydart itself has been sold and belongs to a rich Lowlander called Baird.

  In 1853 the MacDonnell heir was a youngster under legal age and his mother was a trustee of the Knoydart estate. But if she
was, she did not have much wisdom or compassion or pity for the poor tenants. She and her factor decided to move every crofter from Knoydart to make room for the big sheep. That spring they all got notice to leave their homes and they were also told that Sir John MacNeil had agreed to transport them by sea to Australia. They were not asked if they wished to go, or if they preferred to go to Australia or to America, where their friends and compatriots were. There was no more regard for them than there was for the black people of Africa who were sold as slaves to the southern states of America. But they had to go willy-nilly, and when it was discovered that it was not convenient to send them to Australia they were sent away to Canada without an option to stay. Lady MacDonnell, like a female devil, came up from Edinburgh with her factor to make sure that the people were banished.

  The weeping of women and the crying of little children could be heard a long distance away when they were being pulled out of the houses and dragged by Lady MacDonnell’s satanic bailiffs to embark on a ship in the Isle Skye about to sail to North America. The houses were all knocked to the ground and put on fire, both the houses of those who stayed and the houses of those who departed, for no one could remain in Knoydart to scare the sheep. No mercy was shown to those who refused to go to America. Everything that belonged to them was moved out of doors – beds, chairs, tables, pots, wooden and clay vessels, blankets, clothes and everything else. These things could be seen rolling down the slopes of hills when they were thrown outside.

  A poor widow called Elizabeth Gillies, about 60 years of age, was there. This poor woman received notice to go, first to Australia and then to Canada, but she refused to leave. A young daughter who lived with her had died and the widow was now left alone. The factor and the bailiffs came to the house of the widow, who was sitting inside. They ordered her to go out and take everything that she owned with her, for they were going to knock the house down. She asked where she could go, but got no response. She refused to go out. Then two men grabbed her to pull her out regardless, but she sat beside the hearthstone and wouldn’t move an inch.