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An cuala sibh mu bhaile ann an Tìr na Banrigh air a bheil ‘Gin Gin’? Tha e eadar Brisbane agus Rockhampton. Tha e ann an sgìre ris an canar Dùthaich an Albannaich Fhiadhaich – no Wild Scotsman Country. ʼS ann anns an sgìre sin a chaidh Seumas Mac a’ Phearsain a ghlacadh.

Ann an naoi ceud deug, naochad ʼs a h-aon (1991), sia fichead ʼs a còig bliadhna an dèidh a’ ghlacaidh, bha ath-achdachadh ann dheth. Bha postair ann le seo air: ‘Join in the capture of James McPherson alias The Wild Scotchman, Queensland’s only Fair Dinkum Bushranger’.Ìý

Bha Mac a’ Phearsain ainmeil. Choisinn e cliù dha fhèin mar mhèirleach a bha modhail is dòigheil. Ged a ghoideadh e stuth, agus gunna na làimh, cha bhiodh e fòirneartach. 

Chùm e ceum air thoiseach air na poilis fad na h-ùine. Chan iad na poilis a ghlac e ach fir às an àite fhèin. Ghlac iad e a chionn ʼs gun robh an t-each aige ro sgìth airson cumail a dol.

Ge-tà, cha robh na poilis a’ dol a ghabhail teansa leis. Bha e ann an glas-làmh agus iarann-coise fad na h-ùine. Chaidh a thoirt a Bhrisbane, don phrìosan ùr. Bha Mac a’ Phearsain air a bhith an sàs ann an togail a’ phrìosain sin nuair a bha e na phreantas sa bhaile.

Chaidh cùisean gu math dha. Fhuaradh neo-chiontach e air casaidean de bhith a’ leòn òstair. Ach cha robh gnothaichean seachad. Chaidh a thoirt gu baile eile – Maryborough – far an do nochd e sa chùirt air casaidean de mhèirle. Fhuaradh ciontach e an turas seo agus chaidh binn-phrìosain a chur air de dh’fhichead ʼs a còig bliadhna. ʼS e dìreach nach robh e air a bhith fòirneartach a chùm e far na croiche.

Bha e sa phrìosan ann am Brisbane greis. Chuir athair athchuinge chun an Riaghladair, a’ sireadh saorsa airson a mhic. Ach cha deach leis.

Ann an ochd ceud deug is seachdad (1870), chaidh Mac a’ Phearsain a chur gu prìosan ùr – eilean ann am Bàgh Mhoreton ris an canar St Helena. Ged a dh’fheuch e ri teicheadh aon turas, bha na h-ùghdarrasan dhen bheachd gun robh e air atharrachadh. An dèidh ochd bliadhna sa phrìosan, chaidh a shaoradh.

Airson a’ chòrr de a bheatha, bha Mac a’ Phearsain air taobh ceart an lagha. Chaidh e a dh’obair le crodh is eich. Choisinn e cliù dha fhèin mar fhear a bhiodh ag obair gu cruaidh agus gu h-onarach. Phòs e agus bha sianar cloinne aige. Chaidh iad a dh’fhuireach gu tuath ann am Burketown. Sin far an d’ fhuair e bàs ann an ochd ceud deug, naochad ʼs a còig (1895). 

Bha a bhàs annasach. Bha Seumas air a bhith aig tiodhlacadh caraid a thuit far eich. Bha e a’ tilleadh dhachaigh nuair a thilg an t-each aige fhèin e. Chaidh a chlaigeann a bhriseadh agus bha e gun mhothachadh gus an do chaochail e. B’ e sin deireadh an ‘Albannaich Fhiadhaich’ à Srath Spè. Leis an fhìrinn innse, ged a bha e na eucoireach agus gun deach E far an rathaid dhìrich, cha chreid mi gun robh e cus ro fhiadhaich.

Faclan na Litreach: Seumas Mac a’ Phearsain: James McPherson; An t-Albannach Fiadhaich: The Wild Scotsman; Tìr na Banrigh: Queensland; ath-achdachadh: re-enactment; preantas: apprentice; mèirle: robbery.

Abairtean na Litreach: bidh muinntir an àite a’ comharrachadh sin: the local people commemorate that; choisinn e cliù dha fhèin mar mhèirleach a bha modhail is dòigheil: he created a reputation for himself as a robber who was polite and good-tempered; ged a ghoideadh e stuth, agus gunna na làimh, cha bhiodh e fòirneartach: although he would steal stuff at gunpoint, he wouldn’t be violent; chùm e ceum air thoiseach air na poilis: he kept a step ahead of the police; a chionn ʼs gun robh an t-each aige ro sgìth airson cumail a dol: because his horse was too tired to continue; ann an glas-làmh agus iarann-coise fad na h-ùine: in handcuffs and leg-irons the whole time; fhuaradh neo-chiontach e: he was found not-guilty; casaidean de bhith a’ leòn òstair: charges of wounding a publican; chaidh binn-phrìosain a chur air de dh’fhichead ʼs a còig bliadhna: he was sentenced to 25 years in prison; ʼs e dìreach nach robh e air a bhith fòirneartach a chùm e far na croiche: it was just that he hadn’t been violent that kept him from the gibbet; chuir athair athchuinge chun an Riaghladair: his father sent a petition to the Governor; a’ sireadh saorsa airson a mhic: seeking freedom for his son; mar fhear a bhiodh ag obair gu cruaidh agus gu h-onarach: as a man who would work hard and honestly; phòs e agus bha sianar cloinne aige: he married and had six children; aig tiodhlacadh caraid a thuit far eich: at the funeral of a friend who fell from his horse; chaidh a chlaigeann a bhriseadh: his skull was broken; bha e gun mhothachadh gus an do chaochail e: he was unconscious till he died; cha chreid mi gun robh e cus ro fhiadhaich: I don’t reckon he was too wild.

Puing-chànain na Litreach: ʼS ann anns an sgìre sin a chaidh Seumas Mac a’ Phearsain a ghlacadh: it was in that district that James McPherson was caught. Remember that starting a sentence with ʼS ann allows us to emphasize a point. ʼS ann anns an Fhraing a rugadh e, seach anns a’ Ghearmailt ‘it was in France that he was born, rather than in Germany’. ʼS ann am ball-coise a choisinn e cliù, seach ann an criogaid, ged a chluich e na dhà ‘it was in football that he made a name (for himself) rather than in cricket, although he played both’.

Gnàthas-cainnt na Litreach: cha deach leis: he didn’t succeed.