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Tha mi ag iarraidh innse dhuibh mun ghaisgeach Ghàidhealach, Finan MacDonald. Rugadh e ann an Cnòideart. Bha athair na thuathanach. Cò bha ann am Finan MacDonald? Carson a bha e na ghaisgeach? Uill, bha e ainmeil airson sabaid le tarbh-allaidh, no bison, le a làmhan.

Chan eil mi cinnteach dè an t-ainm a bha air ann an Gàidhlig. Leugh mi mu dheidhinn dìreach ann am Beurla. Canaidh mi Fionghan MacDhòmhnaill ris.

Rugadh Fionghan ann an seachd ceud deug, ochdad ’s a dhà (1782). Dh’fhàg e fhèin is a theaghlach Alba nuair a bha e òg. Chaidh iad a dh’Ameireagaidh a Tuath. Dh’fhàs e suas. Bha e gu math mòr. Bha e sia troighean is ceithir òirlich a dh’àirde. Bha falt fada ruadh agus feusag mhòr air. Fhuair e obair aig Companaidh an Iar-thuath. Bha iadsan an sàs ann am malairt nam bian.

Fhuair Fionghan a-steach air treubh de dhùthchasaich. Phòs e tè dhiubh. Uaireannan bha e a’ sabaid airson an treubha.

Rinn e obair le luchd-rannsachaidh. Tha iad ag ràdh gum b’ e Fionghan a’ chiad duine – co-dhiù duine Eòrpach – a chaidh tarsainn nan Rockies trì tursan.

Rinn Fionghan obair rannsachaidh airson an lus-eòlaiche Albannaich, Daibhidh Dùbhghlas. Chruinnich Dùbhghlas tòrr lusan. Cha robh na lusan sin aithnichte anns an Roinn Eòrpa. Lorg e Giuthas an Dùbhghlasaich – an Douglas Fir. Fhuair Daibhidh bàs ann an Hawaii. Thuit e do shloc. Bha na daoine a’ glacadh crodh fiadhaich anns an t-sloc. Bha tarbh anns an t-sloc. Mharbh an tarbh Daibhidh bochd.

Ach bha eachdraidh Fhionghain eadar-dhealaichte. Nuair a bha e ceathrad ’s a còig bliadhna a dh’aois, chaidh a thilgeil far eich. Bha tarbh-allaidh mòr an tòir air. Thionndaidh Fionghan. Rinn an tarbh is Fionghan carachd le chèile. Chaidh an dithis a ghoirteachadh. Ach mhair iad beò. Bha iad ag ràdh nach robh duine eile air tighinn beò tro shabaid le tarbh-allaidh mòr mar sin.

Faclan is abairtean: gaisgeach: hero; rugadh e ann an Cnòideart: he was born in Knoydart; bha athair na thuathanach: his father was a farmer; airson sabaid le tarbh-allaidh: for fighting with a bull bison; le a làmhan: with his [bare] hands; canaidh mi Fionghan MacDhòmhnaill ris: I’ll call him Fionghan MacDhòmhnaill; dh’fhàg e fhèin is a theaghlach Alba: he and his family left Scotland; a dh’Ameireagaidh a Tuath: to North America; sia troighean is ceithir òirlich: six feet and four inches; bha falt fada ruadh agus feusag mhòr air: he had long red hair and a large beard; Companaidh an Iar-thuath: The North-west Company; an sàs ann am malairt nam bian: involved in the fur trade; fhuair Fionghan a-steach air treubh de dhùthchasaich: Finan got friendly with a tribe of native people; phòs e tè dhiubh: he married one of them; a’ sabaid airson an treubha: fighting for the tribe; a’ chiad duine – co-dhiù duine Eòrpach – a chaidh tarsainn nan Rockies trì tursan: the first man – at least, the first European – who went across the Rockies three times; obair rannsachaidh: exploration work; airson an lus-eòlaiche Albannaich, Daibhidh Dùbhghlas: for the Scottish botanist, David Douglas; aithnichte anns an Roinn Eòrpa: known in Europe; Giuthas an Dùbhghlasaich: The Douglas Fir (species); thuit e do shloc: he fell into a pit; a’ glacadh crodh fiadhaich: catching wild cattle; mharbh an tarbh Daibhidh bochd: the bull killed poor David; bha eachdraidh Fhionghain eadar-dhealaichte: Finan’s [life] story was different; chaidh a thilgeil far eich: he was thrown from his horse; bha tarbh-allaidh mòr an tòir air: a big bull bison was pursuing him; rinn an tarbh is Fionghan carachd le chèile: the bison and Finan wrestled with each other; chaidh an dithis a ghoirteachadh: both were hurt; mhair iad beò: they survived; nach robh duine eile air tighinn beò tro shabaid le tarbh-allaidh mòr: that no other man had survived [come alive] through a fight with a big bull bison.