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Tha slighe ann an Dùn Èideann air a bheil Piper’s Walk. Tha e air Suidhe Artair. Tha mi a’ dol a dh’innse dhuibh mar a fhuair Piper’s Walk ainm – co-dhiù, a rèir beul-aithris.

Bha am pìobaire anns an rèisimeid Ghàidhealaich, na 78th High-landers. Chaidh an rèisimeid a chruthachadh le Iarla Shìophort. B’ esan ceann-cinnidh Clann ’ic Coinnich. Bha mìle duine anns an rèisimeid. Bha iad nan Gàidheil. Chaidh an cur gu Lìte, port Dhùn Èideann. Bha sin as t-samhradh seachd ceud deug, seachdad ’s a h-ochd (1778).

Bha an riaghaltas ag iarraidh orra dhol air bòrd soitheach. Ach bha na saighdearan dhen bheachd nach robh e ceadaichte an cur a-null thairis. Nuair a bha iad ann an Lìte, chaidh fathann timcheall gun robh iad a’ falbh do na h-Innseachan. Bha iad feargach. Bhruidhinn iad ris n h-oifigearan aca. Cha d’ fhuair iad gealltanas nach robh iad a’ dol do na h-Innseachan.

            Dh’fhalbh mu shia ceud saighdear. Rinn iad caismeachd a-mach à Lìte. Bha pìobairean aig an ceann. Rinn iad air Suidhe Artair. Chaidh iad suas air a’ chnoc. Cha robh iad deònach falbh às aonais gealltanas nach robh iad a’ dol do na h-Innseachan.

            Bha mòran ann an Dùn Èideann taiceil dhaibh. Cha do rinn na saighdearan cron sam bith air a’ bhaile. Bha iad a’ campachadh air Suidhe Artair airson trì latha. Anns na trì latha sin, bha pìobaire Gàidhealach a’ coiseachd, agus a’ seinn na pìoba, air an t-slighe ris an canar an-diugh Piper’s Walk.

            Thàinig an gnothach gu crìch gu sìtheil. Bha còmhraidhean ann. Rinn iad aonta. Cha robh an rèisimeid a’ dol do na h-Innseachan. Bha iad a’ dol a dh’Eileanan Chaolas Shasainn.

            Beagan làithean às dèidh sin, rinn na saighdearan air Lìte a-rithist. Chaidh iad a dh’Eileanan Chaolas Shasainn. Ann an seachd ceud deug, ochdad ’s a h-aon (1781) dhìon iad Jersey an aghaidh feachd Fhrangach.

There is a route in Edinburgh called Piper’s Walk. It’s on Arthur’s Seat. I’m going to tell you how Piper’s Walk got its name – at least, according to oral tradition.

        The piper was in the Highland regiment, the 78th Highlanders. They regiment was created by the Earl of Seaforth. He was the clan chief of the Mackenzies. There was a thousand men in the regiment. They were sent to Leith, Edinburgh’s port. That was in the summer of 1778.

        The government was wanting them to go on board a ship. But the solders were of the opinion that it was not permitted to send them overseas. When they were in Leith, a rumour went around that they were going to India. They were angry. They spoke to their officers. They didn’t get a promise that they weren’t going to India.

        About six hundred soldiers left. They marched out of Leith. There were pipers at their head. They made for Arthur’s Seat. They went up on the hill. They weren’t willing to leave without a promise that they weren’t going to India.

        Many people in Edinburgh were helpful to them. The soldiers didn’t do any damage to Edinburgh. They were camping on Arthur’s Seat for three days. In those three days a Highland piper was walking, playing the pipes, on the route which is called today Piper’s Walk.

        The matter came to an end peacefully. There were conversations. They made an agreement. The regiment wasn’t going to India. They were going to the Channel Isles.

        A few days after that, the soldiers made for Leith again. They went to the Channel Isles. In 1781 they defended Jersey against a French force.