Poverty or wealth?
Bochdainn no beairteas?
Let's have a look at this discussion. By the end of this section, you will have learned some valuable phrases that you can use in lots of different conversations.
Dè seòrsa fianais a th' againn mun bheatha chruaidh a bh' aig na h-eilthirich?
What kind of evidence do we have about the hard life of the emigrants?
Bha altan is sanasan anns na pàipearan-naidheachd bhon àm sin ag innse mu bheairteas an t-Saoghal Ùir. Shaoileadh tu gun robh an luchd-imrich air nèamh! Ach …
There were articles and advertisements in the newspapers from that time telling about the wealth of the New World. You'd think the immigrants were in heaven! But—
Cha b' ann mar sin a bha cùisean, tha fhios. Mar sin, càit a bheil an fhianais seo?
Things weren't like that, we/I know. So, where is this evidence?
Tha litrichean againn bhon àm sin a tha air an aon làimh ag innse cho math ’s a tha am beatha ùr gus an tigeadh càirdean a-null ach aig a' cheart àm, tha litrichean eile ann a tha làn bròin.
We have letters from that time that on the one hand tell how good their new life is so that relatives will come over but at the same time, there are other letters that are full of sadness.
'S fheudar gun robh cianalas uabhasach orra.
They must have been terribly homesick.
'S fheudar gun robh. Bidh mi daonnan a' smaoineachadh air an òran 'O Mo Dhùthaich'. 'Thig iad ugainn, carach, seòlta, Gus ar mealladh far ar n-eòlais,' agus an duine bochd sin thall am Manitoba.
[It had to be.]They must have been.? I always think of the song 'O Mo Dhùthaich' (Oh, My Country). 'They come to us, sly and cunning, To tempt us away from all that is familiar (to us),' and that poor man over there in Manitoba.
Tha cuimhn' agam air a sin—'Nam biodh agam fhìn de stòras, Dà dheis aodaich, paidhir bhrògan, Agus m' fharadh bhith nam phòca, 'S ann air Uibhist dhèanainn seòladh.'
I remember that: 'If I had the means [enough money], Two sets [suits] of clothes, a pair of shoes, And my fare was in my pocket, I would set sail for Uist.'
Cha b' e gealladh a bh' ann ach mealladh.
It was not a promise but a deception.
Smaoinich air 'Òran do dh'Aimeireaga'. 'Bidh gealladh làidir ga thoirt an tràth sin, Bidh cliù an àite ga chur am meud;'
Think of 'A Song for America': 'A great promise is made on that occasion, The reputation of the place is increased [exaggerated];'
Ach rinn cuid beatha na b' fheàrr dhaibh pèin [dhaib’ fhèin?] agus an cuid theaghlaichean, fiù 's am bàrd ainmeil Iain MacIlleathain a bh' agad an sin. An ceann beagan bhliadhnaichean dhèanadh e òrain molaidh air an dùthaich ùir.
But some did make a better life for themselves and their families, even the famous poet John MacLean you had [mentioned] there. After a few years he would make songs of praise for the new country.
Ach ged a bha beairteas aig cuid, nach robh buaidh aig sin air Gàidhealtachd na h-Alba?
But although some had wealth, didn't that have an impact on the Highlands of Scotland?
Bha gu dearbh. Bha buaidh air àireamh an t-sluaigh—is mòran a bharrachd.
It did indeed. The size of the population [population count?] was affected—and much more besides.