752: Tormod an t-Seòladair (2)
Litir sheachdaineach do luchd-ionnsachaidh le clàr-fuaime, tar-sgrìobhadh is mìneachadh. A weekly letter to Gaelic learners with audio, transcription and explanation.
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Tormod an t-Seòladair (2)
Bha mi ag innse dhuibh mu Thormod MacIlleMhoire, Tormod an t-Seòladair, à Siabost ann an Leòdhas – ‘fear nan nathraichean’. Ann an ochd ceud deug, naochad ’s a trì (1893), thill e do a dhreuchd mar phoileas, ach ann an Ceann Loch Chille Chiarain an turas seo. Bha e an sin beagan bhliadhnaichean mus deach a chur a dh’Ìle. Chòrd muinntir Ìle ris gu mòr. Bha e cuideachd na phoileas ann an Ceann Loch Lìobhann, san Òban agus ann an àiteachan eile.
Innsidh mi dhuibh tuilleadh mu dheidhinn a dhreuchd mar phoileas fhathast, ach tha mi airson innse dhuibh an-dràsta mu obair le nathraichean. Bha Tormod dhen bheachd gun robh daoine mì-reusanta mu na creutairean sin. Tha iad meata nan nàdar, thuirt e. Cha bhìd iad duine ach a-mhàin nuair a tha an t-eagal orra. Airson an làimhseachadh gu sàbhailte, feumaidh tu a bhith socrach, sèimh.
Bha Tormod cho cofhurtail le nathraichean ’s gun cumadh e feadhainn ann an cèidse na sheòmar-cadail. Oidhche a bha seo, fhuair tè a-mach às a’ chèidse. An-ath-mhadainn, rannsaich Tormod air feadh an t-seòmair, ach cha robh sgeul air an nathair. Bha i anns an t-seòmar ann am badeigin, ach cha b’ urrainnear a lorg. Chaidh deich latha seachad mus do lorg Tormod i, agus i ann an cuairteig air cùl leabhraichean. Bha Tormod toilichte a bhith a’ cadal anns an t-seòmar sin, agus fios aige gun robh nathair ann. Chan eil e ag ràdh, ge-tà, an robh e pòsta aig an àm, agus ma bha, dè shaoil a bhean dhen ghnothach!
Bhiodh Tormod ri cleasachd aig amannan. Oidhche a bha seo, nuair a bha e ag obair mar shàirdseant na h-oidhche ann an Earra-Ghàidheal, chuir e tè de na nathraichean aige ann an drathair san deasg aige. Mu uair sa mhadainn, thàinig fear de na constabalan a-steach; bha e a’ dèanamh deiseil airson a dhol a-mach a choiseachd nan sràidean.
‘Thig a-steach, a Sheumais,’ thuirt Tormod ris. ‘Dèan do gharadh aig an teine.’ Shuidh an constabal air beulaibh an teine ghuail. Chaidh Tormod don deasg aige, agus chuir e an nathair air an ùrlar air cùlaibh an oifigeir. Dh’iarr e air an oifigear tuilleadh guail a chur air an teine. Bha soitheach a’ ghuail air a chùlaibh. Thionndaidh e agus chunnaic e an nathair. Leum e far an t-sèitheir le eagal agus dh’èigh e, ‘An ainm an Àigh, leig mi air falbh bhon chreutair chunnartach sin!’ Rinn Tormod gàire mhòr, thog e an nathair, agus chuir e air ais san drathair i.
Bha na nathraichean taiceil dha na obair mar phoileas. Fhuair an naidheachd timcheall gum biodh Tormod a’ cumail nathraichean na phòcaid nuair a bha e a’ coiseachd nan sràidean mar phoileas. Nam biodh òigridh a’ bhaile buaireasach, cha robh aig Tormod ach coiseachd ann agus bhiodh an fheadhainn òga a’ teicheadh. Dàna ’s ged a bha iad, bha eagal orra ro nathraichean.
Às dèidh do Thormod na poilis fhàgail, fhuair e obair mar oifigear do dh’ùghdarras foghlaim Earra-Ghàidheal; bha e a’ sgrùdadh na bh’ ann de chloinn a bha a’ seachnadh na sgoile. Latha a bha seo, bha e ann an oifis ceannard sgoile, le nathair na phòcaid, nuair a sheinneadh clag airson innse do na sgoilearan gun robh an leasan seachad. Innsidh mi dhuibh dè thachair an uair sin anns an ath Litir.
Faclan na Litreach: Tormod MacIlleMhoire: Norman Morrison; Siabost: Shawbost; Ceann Loch Chille Chiarain: Campbeltown; Ceann Loch Lìobhann: Kinlochleven; ùghdarras: authority.
Abairtean na Litreach: fear nan nathraichean: the adder man; thill e do a dhreuchd mar phoileas: he returned to his career as a policeman; gun robh daoine mì-reusanta mu na creutairean sin: that people were unreasonable about those creatures; meata nan nàdar: timid in their nature; airson an làimhseachadh gu sàbhailte, feumaidh tu a bhith socrach, sèimh; to handle them safely, you have to be sedate and calm; gun cumadh e feadhainn ann an cèidse na sheòmar-cadail: that he would keep some in a cage in his bedroom; oidhche a bha seo: one particular night; rannsaich Tormod air feadh an t-seòmair: Norman searched throughout the room; ann an cuairteig air cùl leabhraichean: curled up behind books; an robh e pòsta aig an àm: if he was married at the time; dè shaoil a bhean dhen ghnothach: what his wife thought of the matter; mar shàirdseant na h-oidhche ann an Earra-Ghàidheal: as night-sergeant in Argyll; dèan do gharadh aig an teine: warm yourself at the fire; air beulaibh an teine ghuail: in front of the coal fire; bha soitheach a’ ghuail air a chùlaibh: the coal scuttle was behind him; leum e far an t-sèitheir le eagal agus dh’èigh e: he leapt from the chair in fear and shouted; an ainm an Àigh: for goodness’ sake; a’ cumail nathraichean na phòcaid: keeping snakes in his pocket; nam biodh òigridh a’ bhaile buaireasach:if the young folk of the town were troublesome; dàna ’s ged a bha iad, bha eagal orra ro nathraichean:bold as they were, they were scared of snakes; latha a bha seo, bha e ann an oifis ceannard sgoile, le nathair na phòcaid: one day he was in a headmaster’s office, with a snake in his pocket; a bha a’ seachnadh na sgoile: who were playing truant; nuair a sheinneadh clag: when a bell was rung.
Puing-chànain na Litreach: cha b’ urrainnear a lorg: it (she) couldn’t be found. B’ urrainnear is a past passive form ofis urrainn. B’ urrainnear fhaicinn ‘it could be seen’. Cha b’ urrainnear a ruigsinn ‘it couldn’t be reached’. Cha b’ urrainnear am ceannsachadh ‘they couldn’t be subdued’.
Gnàthas-cainnt na Litreach: Chòrd muinntir Ìle ris gu mòr: he really liked the people of Islay.
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Litir do Luchd-ionnsachaidh
This letter corresponds to Tha an Litir seo a’ buntainn ri An Litir Bheag 448
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