Eachdraidh Raghnaill Mhóir, Athair Aonghais Thulaich

GF043i02 EACHDRAIDH RAGHNAILL MHÓIR, ATHAIR AONGHAIS THULAICH

Beulaiche: Dòmhnall Aonghais mac Fhionnlaigh 'ic Iain 'ic Iain 'ic Fhionnlaigh Mhóir | Dan Angus Beaton
Tar-sgrìobhadh: Oighrig NicFhraing | Effie Rankin

[Dan Angus Beaton:] Uill, tha mi dol a dh'innse dhuibh sgeul air na Dòmhnallaich a thàinig a-nall ás an t-Seann-Dùthaich—na Tulaich. Mun do sheatal 'ad anns an dùthaich seo an toiseach, thàinig fear a-nall, athair nan Tulaich a bh' aig—gheibhear a Léig—'s e Caiptean a bh' ann ann an arm Shasainn. Agus bha title mhór aige shuas anns an dùthaich seo. Bha anns a' bhaiteal ann an Louisbourg ann a—dar a chonquer iad Louisbourg. Uill anns a' bhaiteal sin, esan ann am baitealan eile airson Sasainn iomadh dhiubh mun ceàrn dhe 'n t-saoghal. Ach co-dhiù, dar a chaidh e ri rewardadh, chaidh a chur a-nall a' seo agus chaidh—an job a chaidh a thoirt dha—bha 'na Phaymaster General of British Forces in British North America. In that time, that was—bha sin dar a bha na Stàtaichean a-staigh còmh' ri Canada, dar a bha i 'na h-aon dùthaich uile.

[John Shaw:] Bha.

[DAB:] Agus dar a thigeadh, bhiodh iad a' dà uair 'sa bhliadhna fairis air na States agus air Canada, b' e càit a' robh 'n t-arm aca stationed airson na daoine phàigheadh.

[JS:] Seadh.

[DAB:] Agus 's e esan a bha pàigheadh nan daoine. Is far a' robh 'n dachaidh aige 's ann air mullach na Beinn Bhiorach ann an Inverness County.

[JS:] Sheadh.

[DAB:] Is bha acarsaid bheag is na thugadh e 'staigh bàta beag ann a' sin. Agus bhiodh e faighinn a' mhail—dar a thigeadh a' mail an uair ud 's ann air bàta thigeadh a' mail is rachadh e 'mach a dh'fhaighinn a' mhail. Bha fhios aige cuin a bhitheadh am pay—bhiodh am pàigheadh nan daoine tighinn.

[JS:] Sheadh.

[DAB:] Dar a thigeadh pàigheadh nan daoine, bha 'ad dol a-mach is bha 'ad dol bòrd air bàta mór a bha seo is a' dol bho àite gu àite fairis air a' Philadelphia an uair ud anns na United States ann an New York. Agus tha mi shin agad far am biodh e pàigheadh na h-arm—

[JS:] 'S ann.

[DAB:] —ann a' sin agus ann a' Halifax.

[JS:] 'S ann.

[DAB:] Shin agad far am biodh e a' pàigheadh na h-arm. Agus a' rud a bha cur iongnadh air na daoine, 's e far a' robh 'n dachaidh aige. Cha mhór nach eil a' bheinn sin mìle dh'àirde suas gu mullach.

[JS:] Sheadh.

[DAB:] Is duine sam bith thig dh'ionnsaidh a' mhullach aice, dh'ionnsaidh a' là 'n-diugh, chì e làrach an taighe far a' robh e. Is tha e dìreach mu—beagan is leth acaire level air a' mhullach ann a' sin. Is shin na bha de rud level uile gu léir ann agus carson a bha e shuas a' sin, chan eil fhios agams' is chan fhios aig móran mu dheidhinn na 's motha, ach shiud far 'n do rinn e dhachaidh shuas air mullach siud, fad 's a bha e stationed ann a' seo.

[JS:] 'S ann.

[DAB:] —gus an deach e air ais dha 'n t-Seann-Dùthaich. Is thàinig a mhic a-nall ás a' sin a' seo an uair sin.

[JS:] 'S ann.

[DAB:] Is bha 'ad fhéin ainmeil 'nan caipteans—

[JS:] 'S ann.

[DAB:] —'san arm ann an Sasainn. Is shin agad dìreach an naidheachd mar a chaidh a h-innse dhomhsa. Is tha pàirt dheth ann a' History of Inverness County cuideachd mu dheidhinn.

[JS:] Tha.

[DAB:] Tha. All right.

Translation:

BIG RONALD, ANGUS TULLOCH'S FATHER

[Dan Angus Beaton:] Well, I am going to tell you a story about the MacDonalds who came over from the Old Country—the Tullochs. Before they settled in this country first, one came over, the father of the Tullochs who were at—whom you can find at the Lake (Ainslie)—he was a Captain in the English army. And he had an impressive title over here in this country—he took part in the battle of Louisbourg in—when they conquered Louisbourg, he was in that battle and in others for England in many parts of the world. Anyhow, when he was rewarded, he was sent over here and—the job he was given was—he was the Paymaster General of British Forces in British North America. In that time, that was—that was when the States and Canada were one, when it was all one country.

[John Shaw:] Yes.

[DAB:] And when it came—they used to—twice a year, throughout the States and Canada, wherever their army was stationed, (in order to) pay the men.

[JS:] Indeed.

[DAB:] And it was he who paid the men. And his home was on top of Ben Bhiorach in Inverness County.

[JS:] Yes.

[DAB:] And there was a small harbour there where he could haul in a small boat; and he used to get the mail—when the mail arrived in those days it was by boat. And he used to go out for the mail and he knew when the pay—the salary of the men would come.

[JS:] Yes.

[DAB:] Once the men's pay arrived, he used to go out and board this large vessel and go from place to place all over Philadelphia at that time in the United States and to New York and that is where he paid the army.
[JS:] Yes.

[DAB:] There and in Halifax.

[JS:] Yes.

[DAB:] That's where he paid the army. And what amazed the men was where he had his home. That mountain is almost a mile high.

[JS:] Indeed.

[DAB:] And any one who goes to its summit to this very day will see the foundation site of the house. And it is just about—a little more than a level acre on the top there—that was the one and only level place there —and why he should be up there, I do not know, nor do many know why either; but that is where he made his home on that summit while he was stationed here—

[JS:] Yes.

[DAB:] —till he went home to the Old Country. And his sons came over from there then.

[JS:] Yes.

[DAB:] And they themselves were famous captains—

[JS:] Yes.

[DAB:] —in the army in England. That is the very story, just as it was told to me. And some record of it is in the History of Inverness County also.

[JS:] Yes.

[DAB:] Yes. All right.