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Moorachug and
Meenachug went to gather fruit, and as Moorachug would gather Meenachug
would eat. Moorachug went to seek a rod to lay on Meenachug, and she
eating his share of fruit.
"What's thy
news to-day, oh Voorachai?" said the rod. " 'Tis my own news, that I am
seeking a rod to lay on Meenachug, and she eating my share of fruit."
"Thou wilt not
get me until thou gettest an axe that will reap me." He reached the axe.
"What's thy news to-day, oh Voorachai?" " 'Tis my own news that I am
seeking an axe to reap rod - rod to lay on Meenachug and she eating my
share of fruit."
"Thou wilt not
get me until thou gettest a stone to smooth me." He reached a stone;
"What's thy news to-day, oh Voorachai?" said the stone. " 'Tis my own news
that I am seeking stone to smooth axe - axe to reap rod - rod to lay on
Meenachaig and she eating my share of fruit."
"Thou wilt not
get me," said the stone, "till thou gettest water will wet me." He reached
the water. "What's thy news to day, oh Voorachai?" said the water. " 'Tis
my own news that I am seeking - water to stone - stone to smooth axe - axe
to reap rod - rod to lay on Meenachaig and she eating my share of fruit."
"Thou wilt not
get me," said the water, "till thou gettest a deer to swim me." He reached
the deer. "What's thy news to-day, oh Voorachai?" said the deer. `Tis my
own news, that I am seeking - deer to swim water - water to stone - stone
to smooth axe - axe to reap rod - rod to lay on Meenachaig and she eating
my share of fruit."
"Thou wilt not
get me," said the deer, "until thou gettest a dog to run me." He reached
the dog. "What's thy news to-day, oh Voorachai?" said the dog. " 'Tis my
own news that I am seeking dog to run deer - deer to swim water - water to
stone - stone to smooth axe - axe to reap rod - rod to lay on Meenachaig
and she eating my share of fruit."
"Thou wilt not
get me," said the dog, "till thou gettest butter to be rubbed to my feet."
He reached the butter. "What's thy news to-day, oh Voorachai?" said the
butter. " 'Tis my own news, that I am seeking butter to feet of dog - dog
to run deer - deer to swim water - water to stone - stone to smooth axe -
axe to reap rod - rod to lay on Meenachaig and she eating my share of
fruit."
"Thou wilt not
get me," said the butter, "till thou gettest a mouse will scrape me." He
reached the mouse. "What's thy news to-day, oh Voorachai?" said the mouse.
" 'Tis my own news, that I am seeking mouse to scrape butter - butter to
feet of dog - dog to run deer - deer to swim water - water to stone -
stone to smooth axe - axe to reap rod - rod to lay on Meenachaig and she
eating my share of fruit."
"Thou wilt not
get me," said the mouse, "till thou gettest a cat to hunt me." He reached
the cat. "What's thy news to-day, oh Voorachai?" said the cat. " 'Tis my
own news, that I am seeking cat to hunt mouse - mouse to scrape butter -
butter to feet of dog - dog to run deer - deer to swim water - water to
stone - stone to smooth axe - axe to reap rod - rod to lay on Meenachaig
and she eating my share of fruit."
"Thou wilt not
get me," said the cat, "until thou gettest milk for me." He reached the
cow. "What's thy news to-day, oh! Voorachai?" said the cow. " 'Tis my own
news, that I am seeking milk for the cat - cat to hunt mouse - mouse to
scrape butter - butter to feet of dog - dog to run deer - deer to swim
water - water to stone - stone to smooth axe - axe to reap rod - rod to
lay on Meenachaig and she eating my share of fruit."
"Thou wilt not
get milk from me till thou gettest a whisp from the barn gillie." He
reached the barn gillie. "What's thy news to-day, oh, Voorachai?" said the
barn gillie. " 'Tis my own news that I am seeking a whisp for the cow - a
cow will shed milk for the cat - cat to hunt mouse - mouse to scrape
butter - butter to feet of dog - dog to run deer - deer to swim water -
water to stone - stone to smooth axe - axe to reap rod - rod to lay on
Meenachaigand she eating my share of fruit."
"Thou wilt not
get a whisp from me," said the barn gillie, "till thou gettest a bonnach
for me from the kneading wife." He reached the kneading wife. "What's thy
news to-day, oh, Voorachai!" said the kneading wife. "Tis my own news,
that I am seeking – bonnach to the barn gillie - whisp to the cow from the
barn gillie - milk from the cow to the cat - cat will hunt mouse - mouse
will scrape butter - butter to feet of dog - dog to run deer - deer to
swim water - water to stone - stone to smooth axe - axe to reap rod - rod
to lay on Meenachaig and she eating my share of fruit."
"Thou wilt not
get bonnach from me till thou bringest in water will knead it."
"How will I
bring in the water? There is no vessel but that sowen's sieve."
Moorachug took
with him the sowen's sieve. He reached the water, and every drop he would
put in the sowen's sieve it would go through. A hoodie came over his head,
and she cried, "Gawr rag, gawr rag, little silly, little silly." "Thou art
right, oh hoodie," said Moorachug. "Crèah rooah s' còinneach, crèah rooah
s' còinneach," said the hoodie.
Moorachug set
crèah rooah s' còinneach, brown clay and moss to it, and he brought in the
water to the kneading wife - and he got bonnach from the kneading wife to
barn gillie - whisp from the barn gillie to the cow - milk from the cow
to the cat - cat to hunt mouse - mouse to scrape butter - butter to feet
of dog - dog to run deer - deer to swim water - water to stone - stone to
smooth axe - axe to reap rod - rod to lay on Meenachaig and she eating his
share of fruit. And when Moorachug returned Meenachag had just BURST.
This is the
best known of all Gaelic tales. It is the infant ladder to learning a
chain of cause and effect, and fully as sensible as any of its kind. It
used to be commonly taught to children of five or six years of age, and
repeated by school boys, and it is still remembered by grown up people in
all parts of the Highlands. There are few variations. In one version the
crow was a light bird; in another a gull was introduced, which advised the
use of the sand to stuff the riddle.
The tale has
sixteen steps, four of which contain double ideas. The English house that
Jack built has eleven. The Scotch old woman with the silver penny has
twelve. The Norsk cock and hen a-nutting twelve, ten of which are double.
The German story in Grimm has five or six, all single ideas. All these are
dfferent. In Uist the actors are Biorachan mor agus Biorchan Beag; in
Sutherland, Morachan agus Mionachan.
The speech of
the Hoodie is always a very close imitation of his note. In another
version she says, "CUIR CRIADH RIGHIN RUADH RIS - Put tough red clay to
it;" and the gull said, "CUIR POLL BOG RIS - Put soft mud to it;" which is
rather the speech of some other bird. There are several rare words in
this; for example, "Gadhar," a dog.
MURCRADH A'S
MIONACHAG.
Dh' fholbh
Murchadh a's Mionachag a bhuain sugh, 's mar a bhuaineadh Murchadh dh'
itheadh Mionachag. Dh 'fholbh Murchadh a dh' iarraidh slat a ghabhail air
Monachaig 's i 'g itheadh a chuid sugh - "De do naigheachd an diugh a
Mhurchaidh?" urs' an t-slat. " 'Se mo naigheachd féin gu 'bheil mi 'g
iarraidh Slat a ghabhail air Mionachag 's i 'g itheadh mo chuid sugh." "Cha'n
fhaigh thu mise gus am faigh, thu tuagh a bhuaineas mi." Ràinig e 'n tuagh.
"De do naigheachd an diugh a Mhurchaidh?" "Se mo naigheadchd féin gu 'bheil
mi 'g iarraidh Tuagh a bhuaineas slat - Slat a ghabhail air Mionachaig 's
i 'g itheadh mo chuid sugh" - 'Cha 'n fhaigh thu mise gus am faigh thu
clach a lìobhas mi." Ràinig e 'chlach. "Dé do naigheachd an diugh a
Mhurchaidh?" urs' a' chlach. " 'Se mo naigheachd féin gu 'bheil mi 'g
iarraidh Clach a lìobhadh tuagh - Tuagh a bhuain slat - Slat a ghabhail
air Mionachaig 's i' g itheadh mo chuid sugh. " "Cha n fhaigh thu mis',"
urs' a' chlach, "gus am faigh thu uisge a fhliuchas mi." Ràinig e 'n t-uisge
- "De do naigheachd an diugh a Mhurchaidh?” urs' an t-uisge. " 'S e mo
naigheachd féin gu bheil mi 'g iarraidh Uisge ma chloich - Clach a
lìobhadh tuagh - Tuagh a bhuain slat - Slat a ghabhail air Mionachaig 's i
'g itheadh mo chuid sugh." "Cha 'n fhaigh thu mis'," urs' an t-uisge, "gus
am faigh thu fiadh a shnàmhas mi." Ràinig e 'm fiadh. "Dé do naigheachd an
diugh a Mhurchaidh?" urs' am fiadh. "'Se mo naigheachd féin gu 'bheil mi'g
iarraidh Fiadh a shnàmh uisg'. Uisge ma chloich. Clach a lìobhadh tuagh.
Tuagh a bhuain slat. Slat a ghabhail air Mionachaig's i 'g itheadh mo
chuid sugh." "Cha 'n fhaigh thu mis'," urs' am fiadh, "gus am faigh thu
gadhar a ruitheas mi." Ràinig e 'n gadhar. "Dé do naigheachd an diugh a
Mhurchaidh?" urs' an gadhar. " S e mo naigheachd féin gu 'bheil mi 'g
iarraidh Gadhar a ruith fiadh. Fiadh a shnàmh uisg'. Uisge ma chloich.
Clach a lìobhadh tuagh. Tuagh a bhuain slat. Slat a ghabhail air
Mionachaig 's i 'g itheadh mo chuid sugh." "Cha 'n fhaigh thu mis," urs'
an t-im, "gus am faigh thu luch a sgriobas mi." "Ràinig e 'n luch. "Dé do
naigheachd an diugh a Murchaidh?" urs' an luch. " 'Se mo naigheachd féin
gu 'bheil mi 'g iarraidh Luch a sgrìobadh im. Im chasa gadhair. Gadhar a
ruith fiadh. Fiadh a shnàmh uisg'. Uisge ma cloich.
Clach a lìobhadh tuagh. Tuagh a bhuain slat. Slat a ghabhail air
Mionachaig 's i 'g itheadh mo chuid sugh." "Cha 'n fhaigh thu mis'," urs'
an luch, "gus am faigh thu cat a 'shealgas mi. " Ràinig e 'n cat. "Dé do
naigheachd an diugh a Mhurchaidh?" urs' an cat. " 'Se mo naigheachd féin
gu 'bheiI mi 'g iarraidh Cat a shealg luch. Luch a sgrìobadh im. Im chasa
gadhair. Gadhar a ruith fiadh. Fiadh a shnàmh uisg'. Uisge ma chloich.
Clach a lìobhadh tuagh. Tuagh a bhuain slat. Slat a ghabhail air
Mionachaig 's i 'g itheadh mo chuid sugh." "Cha 'n fhaigh thu mis'," urs'
an cat, "gus am faigh thu bainne dhomh." Ràinig e 'bhò." "Dé do naigheachd
an diugh a Mhurchaidh?" urs' a' bhò." 'Se mo naigheachd féin gu 'bheil mi
'g iarraidh Bainne do 'n chat. Cat a shealg luch. Luch a sgrìobadh im. Im
chasa gadhar. Gadhar a ruith fiadh. Fiadh a shnàmh uisg'. Uisge ma chloich.
Clach a lìobhadh tuagh. Tuagh a bhuain slat. Slat a ghabhail air
Mionachaig 's i 'g itheadh mo chuid sugh." "Cha 'n fhaigh thu bainne uamsa,
gus am faigh thu sop o 'n ghilleshabhaill. " Ràinig e 'n gille-sabhaill. "Dé
do naigheachd an diugh a Mhurchaidh?" urs' an gille-sabhaill. " 'Se mo
naigheachd féin gu 'bheil mi 'g iarraidh. Sop a gheobh bò. Bo bhligheadh
bainne do 'n chat. Cat a shealg luch. Luch a sgrìobadh im. Im chasa gadhar.
Gadhar a ruith fiadh. Fiadh a shnàmh uisg'. Uisge ma chloich. Clach a
lìobhadh tuagh. Tuagh a bhuain slat. Slat a ghabhail air Mionachaig 's i
'g itheadh mo chuid sugh." "Cha 'n fhaigh thu sop uamsa," urs' an
gillesabhaill, "gus am faigh thu Bonnach dhomh o 'n Bhean-fhuinne." Ràinig
e 'bhean-fhuinne. "Dé do naigheachd an diugh a Mhurchaidh?" urs' a'
bhean-fhuinne. " 'Se mo naigheachd féin gu 'bheil mi’ g iarraidh Bonnach
do 'n ghille-shabhaill. Sop do 'n Bho o 'n Ghille-shabhaill. Bainn' o 'n
Bho do 'n chat. Cat a shealgas luch. Luch a sgrìobas im. Im chasa gadhair.
Gadhar a ruith fiadh. Fiadh a shnàmh uisg'. Uisge ma chloich. Clach a
lìobhadh tuagh. Tuagh a bhuain slat. Slat a ghabhail air Mionachaig 's i
'g itheadh mo chuid sugh." "Cha'n fhaigh thu bonnach uamsa mar an d'thoir
thu stigh uisg' a dh' fhuinneas e." "Dé mar a' bheir mi stigh an t-Uisge?
Cha 'n 'eil soitheach ann ach an Criathar Cabhrach sin." Thug Murchadh
leis an Criathar Cabhrach, 's ràinig e n t-uisge, 's a h-uile deur a
chuireadh e 's a' Chriathar Chabhrach rachadh e roimhe. Thàinig Feannag as
a chionn 's ghlaoidh i "Gòrrag, gòrrag." "Tha thu ceart, fheannag," ursa
Murchadh. "Crèadh ruagh 's còinneach, crèadh ruagh 's còinneach. " Chuir
Murchadh crèadh ruagh 's còinneach ris, 's thug e 'stigh an t-Uisge, 's
fhuair e Bonnach o 'n Bhean-fhuinne do 'n Ghille-shabhaill. Sop o 'n
Ghille-shabhaill do 'n Bhò. Bainn'o'n Bhò do 'n chat. Cat a shealg luch.
Luch a sgrìobadh im. Im chasa gadhair. Gadhar a ruith fiadh. Fiadh a
shnàmh uisg'. Uisge ma chloich. Clach a lìobhadh tuagh. Tuagh a bhuain
slat. Slat a ghabhaill air Mionachaig 's i 'g itheadh a chuid sugh. 'S nur
a thill Murchadh bha Mionachag an déigh SGAINEADH!! |
