Fògradh is Fàisneachd	Pursuit and Prophesy
Sa gheamhradh 1936-37, chaidh sreath rèidio air an robh "Am Measg nam Bodach" a chraoladh, anns an robh daoine pongail as na h-eileanan Gaidhealach a' cuimhneachadh seann daoine an òige. Seo an dara leth dhen aithris aig Seumas MacCoinnich air Na Hearadh. (teacs tùsail)	In the winter of 1936-37 was broadcast a radio series called "Am Measg nam Bodach", in which eloquent speakers from the Hebrides remembered the old folk of their youth. Here is the second half of the programme by Seumas MacCoinnich on Harris. (translation)
Chan eil fios aig mòran air eachdraidh a' Phrionnsa anns na Hearadh, arsa Coinneach, agus e ga shocrachadh fhèin ann an cathair an t-seanchaidh. "'Se sinn-seanair an fhir ris an abair sinn am Morair MacAmhlaigh bu mhinisteir anns an eilean aig an àm, fear Amhlaigh MacAmhlaigh: b'esan a bhrath am Prionnsa agus tha Cnoc nan Saighdearan ann an Sgalpaigh gus an latha 'diugh a' toirt fianais air casgairt a bha iargalta agus borb.	Not many know the history of the Prince in Harris, said Coinneach as he settled himself in the storyteller's seat. "The great-grandfather of the man we call Lord MacAulay was the minister on the island at the time, one Amhlaigh MacAmhlaigh: he it was who betrayed the Prince, and Cnoc nan Saighdearan [hill of the soldiers] in Scalpay gives witness to this day to a slaughter which was tumultuous and fierce.
"Far a bheil taigh còmhnaidh ministear na h-Eaglaise Saora, 'sann an-sin a bha làrach taighe Dhòmhnaill Chaimbeul a thug aoigheachd agus fialaidheachd do Theàrlach Òg. A rèir mar a tha e sgrìobhte, dh' fhaodadh Dòmhnall deich mile fichead punnd Sasannach fhaotainn on Chrùn, ach cha robh sin ach suarach aig cridhe glan, onarach, còir an laoich. Tha cuid a' cumail a-mach gun d'ràinig Dòmhnall Àirigh Bhruaich maille ris an fhògarrach ach, le facal na fìrinn cha deach bàta a' Chaimbeulaich na b'fhaide na beul Loch Sìophort. Ràinig am Prionnsa a' bhean-uasal NicCoinnich ann an Taigh Chille Dùine làimh ri Steòrnabhagh ach bha èighe nan creach roimhe an-sin, agus thill e air a chois-cheum cheudna do Sgalpaigh an ceann trì làithean, ach thàinig air dol a-steach do dh'fhasgadh Loch Seal oir bha an Cuan Sgitheanach làn luingeis chogaidh.	"The manse of the Free Kirk minister is on the site of the house of the Dòmhnall Caimbeul who gave hospitality and a generous welcome to the young Charles. According to the written record, Dòmhnall could get thirty thousand pounds sterling from the Crown, but that was beneath the contempt of the pure, honourable, decent heart of this heroic man. Some maintain that Dòmhnall arrived at Àirigh Bhruaich with the fugitive but, the truth is that Caimbeul's boat went no further than the mouth of Loch Seaforth. The Prince met up with Lady MacKenzie in Cille Dùine House near Stornoway but the hue and cry had been raised before him, and he retraced his footsteps to Scalpay in three days, but he was forced to go into the shelter of Loch Shell since the Minch was full of vessels of war.
"Mu dheireadh thall ràinig e Sgalpaigh, ach bha Dòmhnall Caimbeul a' siubhail slèibhe is monaidh agus na saighdearan dearga air a thòir. Chuir am Prionnsa aghaidh air Uibhist, tro ghàbhadh is cunnart, tro loch is lùib is òb ràinig e caladh, agus cò nach cuala iomradh air Fionnaghal NicDhòmhnaill, ach is mòr am beud gur ise a fhuair an cliù uile, oir bha fear a Chlann 'ic Leòid maille ris, fear Dòmhnall MacLeòid a Port Rìgh, a latha agus a dh'oidhche ann an teanntachd agus ann an cruaidh-chàs; b'fhìor laoch agus ghaisgeach e agus fhuair e bàs gun urram gun iomradh."	"At long last he arrived in Scalpay, but Dòmhnall Caimbeul was roaming hillside and moor with the redcoats in pursuit. The Prince headed for Uist; through hazard and danger, by loch, creek and bay he reached harbour, and who has not heard of Flora MacDonald, but it is a great shame she got all the fame, for there was a man of Clan MacLeod, a certain Dòmhnall MacLeòid from Portree, with him by day and by night in adversity and hardship; he was a true hero and warrior and died without praise or mention."
"Ged as leisg, is fheudar, a Choinnich! Ach thig orm falbh."	"Needs must, Coinneach, but I have to go."
''A laochain,'' arsa na bodaich a beul a chèile, ''thoir leat fàd lasrach mun tèid thu le Creag Losgaidh nan Gall."	"My man," they all said as one, "take a burning peat with you lest you go over Creag Losgaidh nan Gall."
"'S iomadh fear math a chaidh leatha,'' arsa Coinneach, fear cathrach an taigh chèilidh, ''on chiad latha a chuir na Lochlannaich sradag ri Laoisgiutar is a chaidh coilltean na Hearadh 'nan smàl; anns a' ghleann ùdlaidh ud os cionn Mhiabhaig a-Deas tha Hoosa, nighean Rìgh Lochlainn 'na cadal agus crònan Allt nan Caorach ga cur fo gheasaibh gu latha Luan."	"Many's the good man who has," commented Coinneach, the chairman of the cèilidh house, "since the first day the Norse put a spark to Laoisgiutar and the woods of Harris were burnt down; in yon gloomy glen above South Miabhaig sleeps Hoosa, daughter of the King of the Norse, till the end of time under the spell of the murmuring of Allt nan Caorach."
"Cuir coinnean ri do phìob, 's gun innis mi seo dhut, mo ghille math:	"Light your pipe with a candle, until I tell you this, my fine lad:
"Tha solas Laoisgiutar an-siud fhathast, tha solas na Leacainn ann cuideachd, ach chan urrainn sinne innseadh an e taibhs air a' bheò no air a' mharbh a tha sin, ach cho cinnteach 's a thionndaidheas Uisge Glupa nan Clòintean 'na fhuil thig coileanadh air nithean do-rannsaichte na h-aimsir seo."	"The light of Laoisgiutar is there still, the light of the Leacann too, but we can't tell whether it is a ghost of the living or of the dead, but as sure as that the Water of Gluba nan Clòintean turns into blood the unfathomable things of these times will be fulfilled."
Mhothaich mi gun tàinig lannair dealrach dubh-ghorm ann an sùil Choinnich, agus air dha èirigh gu na h-uinneige, labhair e mar neach a saoghal nan spiorad: "Seall siud," ars' esan, "seachdain o nochd thèid neach air choreigin a ghiùlan gu àite tàimh nam marbh, làimh ris bidh draoidh is manach; cha b'e Cliamhain, no Tarans, a dh'òrdaich sin, nì motha 'se Prìomh Athair Phapaigh no MaolRuibhe nan Eileanan Mòra, cho àrd 's gu robh an inbhe ann an Eaglais nan Ceilteach - ach a laochain bi a' falbh mun goir an coileach¸ sàth do chorran anns an fhàd chòsaich ud agus gach beannachd 'ad chois."	I noticed a brilliant, dark-blue gleam come into Coinneach's eye, and after standing up at the window, he spoke like a man from the world of the spirits: "See that," he said, "a week from tonight someone or other will be borne to the resting place of the dead, close by him will be druid and monk; not Cliamhan, nor Tarans, who ordered that, neither is it the First Father of Papay nor MaolRuibhe of the Shiants, for all the high status they held in the Celtic Church - but my man be going before the cock crows, stick your sickle in yon soft lump of peat and every blessing be with you."
Bha mi air mo bheò-ghlacadh le iongnadh do-labhairt, oir ged nach cuala mi Gairm nam Marbh, agus ged nach faca mi na nithean a chuir solas mì-nàdarra ann an sùil an t-seanchaidh, chunnaic mi a' bheithir theinntidh a' tuiteam le steall is srann os cionn Ròineabhal agus i a' togail a cùrsa air Tùr Chliamhain. Mar as beò mi chan eil mi creidsinn ann an droch-shùil, taibhs no dà-shealladh ach, a Choinnich, a Choinnich, oidhche mhath leat!	I was transfixed with unspeakable surprise, for though I did not see the Call of the Dead, and though I did not see those things which put an unnatural light in the eye of the storyteller, I did see the fiery serpent falling with gush and whiz above Ròineabhal whilst making its way to Rodel Church. For my life I don't believe in evil eye, ghost or second sight but, oh Coinneach, Coinneach, good night to you!
Tha 'eachdraidh fhèin aig gach bodach; chan e sodal no plaosgan nan daoidh, ach fìrinn nam fàidh le dà-shealladh air a ghiùlan air sgiathaibh nan saoidh. Seanchas air treubhantas, 'fhearaibh, sgeul air cogadh is sìth.	Every old man has his own history; not the flattery or clatter of the thrawn, but the truth of the prophets with the second sight borne on the wings of the worthy. Tales of valour, my lads, story of war and peace.
Gràdh agus coibhneas gar tarraing gu cladach ar n-eilein is ar tìr. Oidhche mhath leibh, a chàirdean.	Love and kindness attract us to the shore of our island and our land. Good night to you, my friends.

You can find more articles in the archive under Gaelic Column and information on the organization at C.L.I.