ページの画像
PDF
ePub

TRANSACTIONS.

ANNUAL ASSEMBLY.

THE Sixteenth Annual Assembly of the Society was held in the Music Hall on Thursday, 12th July, 1888. In the absence of The Mackintosh of Mackintosh, Chief of the Society, Sir Henry C. Macandrew presided. The Northern Chronicle, in speaking of the Assembly, said:-" After an interval of two years, the Gaelic Society of Inverness has resumed the summer entertainments which for the last sixteen years have been associated with the great Wool Fair. In all respects Thursday evening's assembly was a great achievement. We have never seen a larger or more enthusiastic audience; certainly a more attractive programme had never previously been submitted, and zest and enjoyment characterised the whole meeting. It is becoming customary to decorate the platform very profusely when concerts are given in the Music Hall. Some of the decorations were on recent occasions extremely pretty; but for chaste effect the picture produced by the Gaelic Society by means of tartans, weapons of war, and other fitting objects, has not been excelled. The platform was intended to represent the drawing-room of a Highland chief, when the native. tartan played a conspicuous part in the economy and decoration of the household. Its uses were illustrated by the cover thrown over the quaintly-shaped table which stood in front of a luxurious easy chair, occupied by the chairman of the evening, Sir Henry C. Macandrew, Provost of Inverness. The front of the orchestra, which lends itself considerably in form and outline to such embellishment, was draped with the tartans of the clans, and ornamented with shields, deer's heads, claymores, and dirks, tastefully arranged. Above the central doorway there was a picturesque group of weapons and other objects suggestive of war, of the chase, and of the wild grandeur of the Highlands; and above all towered a gigantic thistle. In the background each tier of seats was con

cealed in masses of heather and broom, judiciously relieved by plants and young trees. The whole decorations, as we have said, were charming in taste and effective as a spectacle." Sir Henry was supported on the platform by Sir Kenneth J. Matheson of Lochalsh, Bart.; Emeritus-Professor Blackie; Mr Mackintosh, yr. of Raigmore; Mr E. H. Macmillan, banker; Mr Alex. Ross, architect, Queensgate; Mr Alex. Macpherson, banker, Kingussie ; Dr F. M. Mackenzie, High Street; Captain Chisholm, Glassburn; Major Baynes, Adjutant Cameron Highlanders; Rev. A. D. Mackenzie, Kilmorack; Mr Alexander Mackenzie, publisher; Mr Gilbert Beith, Glasgow; Mrs Mary Mackellar, Bard of the Society; Mr Colin Chisholm, Namur Cottage; Bailie Alex. Mackenzie, Inverness; Mr Roderick Maclean, factor for Ardross; and Mr D. Mackintosh, Bank of Scotland, Secretary of the Society.

At the outset the Secretary intimated that apologies for absence had been received from Mackintosh of Mackintosh, Chief of the Society; Mr Cameron of Lochiel; Mr R. B. Finlay, M.P.; Mr C. Fraser-Mackintosh, M.P.; Mr Lachlan Macdonald of Skaebost; Sir Kenneth S. Mackenzie of Gairloch, Bart.; Mr Allan R. Mackenzie, yr. of Kintail; Mr Forbes of Culloden; Mr Fletcher, Letham Grange; Major Grant, Glen-Urquhart; Dr Stewart, "NetherLochaber;" Sheriff Nicolson; Sheriff Blair; Mr Bankes of Letterewe; Mr Reginald Macleod; Mr Mackay, Hereford; Col. Geo. Rose; Mr Charles Innes; Mr James Barron, of the Inverness Courier; Mr D. Davidson, Drummond Park; Rev. A. Bisset, Fort-Augustus ; Rev. J. M'Rury, Snizort; Mr Geo. J. Campbell, solicitor; and Mr William Mackenzie, of the Crofter Commission.

Sir Henry Macandrew, who was received with prolonged applause, said-Ladies and gentlemen, I am sure you will all join with me in a feeling of regret that the gentlemen whose names have just been read have not been able to be present to-night, and in particular that the Chief of the Society-The Mackintosh of Mackintosh has not been able to take the place which I now оссиру. It was intended that he should be here, but from unavoidable causes he has not been able to come. Before proceeding to the very attractive programme which has been prepared, it is usual for the person occupying my position to say a few words with reference to the occasion on which we are met together. This is the sixteenth annual assembly of the Inverness Gaelic Society, and I am sure we may congratulate ourselves upon the very large number of people who have assembled on this occasion, and also on the continued success which has attended this Society since its institution. During these sixteen years, the Society, in

its literary department, has been doing very excellent work-work which has been acknowledged by authorities in Celtic literature— and the volumes which have been published will be a lasting memorial of what the Gaelic Society has done for the Gaelic language and Gaelic literature. These annual gatherings are intended to perpetuate good Highland feeling, Highland songs, Highland games, and all that relates to what is best and most beautiful in the past among our ancestors. Thus, I am sure, we must congratulate ourselves upon the growing success of these gatherings, for I do not suppose there has ever been an assembly more largely attended than the one to-night. The purpose for which we are met is commemorative, as I have said, of certain things which were good in the lives of our ancestors. It is often

a moot question whether, in the days that are past, life was happier and more beautiful than it is now. The result of my own reading and research on the subject is to this effect, that while I believe there is much more material comfort now, I doubt very much whether our lives are happier than they were in the past. We have now more material comfort, but we have also more cares. If there are fewer people among us who are reduced to the verge of want, we all have a more anxious life in earning a living. I think that life, particularly in the Highlands, wants a great deal of the charm and zest and beauty which it possessed among our ancestors. This Society is one of the outcomes of the efforts lately made for the preservation of something of that beautiful past. In all the efforts of the Society during the years it has existed, we have directed ourselves only to what we thought did make the life of our ancestors more beautiful and more pleasant; we looked to its poetry, its music, and games, and the enjoyment of its social life, which we have tried to preserve. If there is anything that should make us proud of our ancestry, it was a knowledge that, even among the poorer classes of the generation long gone by, there was a feeling of chivalry and devotion to something higher than themselves, which does not exist, at any rate so strongly, among us now. I may mention that one day recently I had the pleasure of visiting a remarkable scene in the Highlands. I was at the top of Glenmoriston, and went to see a cave in a wild, weird corry where Prince Charlie spent three weeks under the care of seven men who were little better than freehooters. And yet these seven men, knowing that a fortune was offered for the capture of the fugitive, which they could have earned at any time, because within five miles of their retreat there was er camped a detachment of English soldiers, not only did they not

accept the offer, but I believe the thought of it never entered their minds. They preserved the Prince, and conducted him to a place of safety. As I sat among these stones and looked back upon the past, it struck me that there were few more beautiful and chivalrous stories in the whole course of literature. I felt that I had good reason to be proud of the race to which those men belonged. I will not now detain you longer from the programme which is before us. I trust you will all enjoy the evening, and that it will remind us of the past-remind us of the kindly feelings which all Highlanders ought to entertain towards each other, and that we will carry away with us a pleasant memory, which will help us through the rest of our lives, and make us more kindly towards our fellows.

The first part of the programme was then gone through as follows:

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

The Rev. A. D. Mackenzie, Kilmorack, then addressed the meeting in Gaelic. He said 'Nuair a chuir bhur Run-chleireach, Mr Mac-an-Toisich, litir thugamsa, a dh'iarraidh gun labhrainn ruibh a nochd anns a chainnt mhatharail, 's i a' cheud cheisd a thainig a steach orm-Ciod an ni fo'n ghrein air an labhair mise riu nach tog atharrachadh barail agus deasboireachd. Ma labhras mi air cor nan Eaglaisean bithidh sinn aig na duirn an tiota; ma labhras mi air riaghladh na Parlamaid, cha 'n e sin buille is fearr ; agus ma labhras mi mu shuidheachadh an fhearainn eadar uachdarana agus iochdrana-ged a chuala mise cliu oirbh fein Fhir-na-Caithreach mar Dhuin-uasal cho baigheal 's cho fialaidh do bhochd agus do bheartach 's tha ann an Ceann-tuath na h-Alba -cha'n eil fhios am biodh sinn fada an coluadar 'nuair a dh'eireadh atharrachadh barail eadaruinn. Anns an imcheisd, ciod a thainig na'm inntinn ach so. Tha aon ni co-dhiubh anns an cord na h-uile fior Ghaidheil- -na h-uile aig am beil an cridhe far am bu choir da bhith. Ciod e sin? Meas mor air a chainnt-mhatharail, agus mor ghradh dhi mar a' chainnt is snasaile, mar a' chainat is. brio'mhoire, mar a' chainnt is druightiche, agus mar a' chainnt is deas-bhriathraiche, fo'n ghrein. Rainig mi nis air mo cheann

teagiasg agus do thaobh 's gu'm beil an uine goirid agus moran r'a 'dheanamh, giulanaidh sibh leam a dhol air adhart cho bras 'sa ghabhas deanamh. Tha mi airson focal a radh an toiseach, mu mhearachd a gheibhear gu coitchionn a measg nan Gaidheal fein, nach e a mhain gu'm beil a' Ghailig am measg nan cainntean is sine chaidh riamh a labhairt air an talamh, ach gu bheil iad fein ga labhart a nis mar a bha i air a labhart feadh nan linnean cian a chaidh seachad. Cha bheag a mhearachd so; agus cha bheag an t-ana-cothrom a tha a' chainnt so a' fulang ann a bhi ga co-charadh ri cainntean eile. (1). Gabh am focal craobh (cruv). An e so ceud chruth an fhocail? Cha 'n e ach crub, agus uime sin ann an ainmibh aitean far am bheil a' Ghailig is sine r'a faotuinn gheibh sibh an cruth so. Ann an Eirinn Sliabh Crub, ann an SrathFharragaig againn fhein gheibh sibh Bun-Chrubai, agus an Cataobh Sron-Chrubai. A nis, mur eil mise air mo mhealladh se so freumh an fhocail Ghreugaich, Krubo, "Tha mi falach," oir ciod a' cheud aite falaich a bha aig clann nan daoine ? Bha measg nan craobh. Lomaich am facal ni's mò gu Craoich, e.g., Dun-Chraoich, SgireChraoich, ann an Cataobh. A ris gu Crieff, Moncrieff Cnoc faisg air Peairt, agus fa dheireadh gu cru agus cri, mar ann an Bunchrew, agus Cri-leamhann, agus Cri-nan-glag-ann an Srath-ghlais. (2). Gabh am focal clabar, clabar criadha tiugh-clabhar (clavar). claur, agus o sin gu glaur, e.g., nieve fu' o' glaur-dorlach de 'n chlabar. (3). Gabh am focal sugh (su) an toiseach, sug, mar a gheibh sibh e ann an "Sugan a mhathar," agus 'nuair a ruigeas sinn an cruth so de 'n fhocal chi sibh gur h-e mhathair am focal Beurla, suck, agus am facal Laidinn sugo, agus am focal Gearmailteach saugen. (4). Tog am focal troidh (troih) ach ciod a their an Uelshach nan Kymrigeach? Troed. Tha e soillear gur h-e so ceud chruth an fhocail. Chum sinn fhein greim air anns an radh coitchionn troud so, ach 'nuair a ruigeas sinn so faic mar a gheibh thu uaithe na focail tread, trudge, trot, trotter, retreat, &c. Dh' fheudamaid ficheadan de 'n t-seorsa so a chur fo ur comhair, anns am bheil tri ceumanna de lomadh no de mhaoladh air teachd orra o na ceud chruthan. Bu mhaith leam focal a radh mu mhearachd eile a tha ro thric ra chluinntinn am measg pharantan Ghaidhealach, 'se sin gu'm beil beoil na clainne air an cur o fheum leis a' Ghailig airson a bhi labhairt na Beurla agus cainntean eile. Cha 'n eil amaideachd is mo fo'n ghrein. An aite so 's ann a tha cleachdadh na Gailig a' deasachadh am beoil airson cainntean eile a labhairt gu ceart. Iarr air an t-Sasunnach loch a radh 'se their e loc, iarr air Lochaber a radh. 'S e their e Locaber-iarr air laogh, agh, adhair, a radh. Cha 'n urra dha ged a bheireadh tu

« 前へ次へ »