大象传媒

Eadar Melbourne agus na raointean 貌ir ann am Ballarat agus Bendigo, bha na rathaidean cunnartach. Bhiodh m猫irlich a鈥� feitheamh aig oir nan rathaidean. Nuair a bhiodh 貌r aig m猫inneadair, bhiodh e a鈥� reic sin do dh鈥檕ifis air an raon. Gheibheadh e cuidhteas 鈥� 鈥檚 e sin bileag a bha ag ainmeachadh luach an 貌ir. Bheireadh am m猫inneadair an cuidhteas gu Roinn an Ionmhais ann am Melbourne, far am faigheadh e airgead air a shon.

Ach dh鈥檉haodadh duine sam bith an t-airgead fhaighinn nan robh cuidhteas 貌ir aige. Agus 鈥檚 e goid nam bileagan a bha fa-near do na m猫irlich. Uaireannan bhiodh iad a鈥� murt a鈥� mh猫inneadair airson am p矛os p脿ipeir luachmhor fhaighinn.

Turas a bha seo, bha an t-Urr Tormod MacLe貌id air an rathad eadar Melbourne agus na raointean 貌ir. Thachair e ri buidheann de mh猫irlich. Ach cha robh cuidhteas 貌ir aige. Is cha robh airgead aige. Bha esan ann mar mhinistear, a鈥� cumail cheanglaichean be貌 eadar na daoine aige a bha a-nise gu math sgapte.

Thuig na m猫irlich gu robh e bochd, is cha do rinn iad cron air. Gu dearbh, thug iad cuireadh dha thighinn air ais don champa aca airson na h-oidhche. Ghabh e ris a鈥� chuireadh oir bha cothrom aige facal an Tighearna a sgaoileadh am measg nam m猫irleach. Fad uairean a th矛de, thug e trod dhaibh mun d貌igh-bheatha olc aca. Is iongantach mura robh iad gu math toilichte soraidh a leigeil leis sa mhadainn!

鈥橲 e fear treun a bh鈥� ann an Tormod. Ach bha d貌rainn a鈥� feitheamh ris. Bha a theaghlach fhathast a鈥� fuireach ann am Baile nan Teantaichean. Bha an t-uisge aca salach agus bhris am fiabhras breac a-mach. Taobh a-staigh sia seachdainean, bha an tri霉ir mhac as 貌ige aig Tormod marbh. 鈥橲 e buille chruaidh a bh鈥� ann agus is beag an t-iongnadh gun do cho-dh霉in Tormod is c脿ch Astr脿ilia fh脿gail.

Bha iad air aithrisean a chluinntinn mu New Zealand. Bha talamh math ann 鈥� freagarrach airson 脿iteachas. Agus cha robh 貌r ann. Cha bhiodh olc ann mar a chunnaic iad ann an Astr脿ilia, co-cheangailte ri gn矛omhachas an 貌ir. Sgr矛obh Tormod gu Riaghladair na d霉thcha, Sir Se貌ras Grey. Bhrosnaich esan iad a dhol ann.

Cha robh an soitheach am Margaret aca tuilleadh. Ach bha an Highland Lass ann. Chaidh an Highland Lass a reic agus chaidh soitheach eile a cheannach 鈥� an Gazelle. As t-Sultain, ochd ceud deug, leth-cheud 鈥檚 a tr矛 (1853), she貌l an Gazelle 脿 Adelaide le c貌rr is ceud duine air b貌rd 鈥� daoine 脿 Ceap Breatainn a bh鈥� air a bhith ann an Astr脿ilia a Deas. Dh鈥檉heumadh Tormod agus muinntir Bhictoria feitheamh gus an tilleadh i.

Chaidh an Gazelle a dh鈥橝uckland. Nuair a bha i gu tuath air a鈥� bhaile, chunnaic na daoine air b貌rd 脿ite a bha air leth math air t矛r. Bha iad ag iarraidh fearann fhaighinn ann. Cha b鈥� e sin beachd Shir She貌rais Grey, ge-t脿. Mhol esan fearann na b鈥� fhaide deas anns an Eilean mu Thuath, no anns an Eilean mu Dheas far nach robh na Maori cho pailt.

Ach cha robh na h-Albannaich air a shon. Chaidh buidheann dhiubh gu tuath airson an cladach a rannsachadh. Lorg iad fearann math ri taobh Abhainn Waipu. Rinn iad tagradh airson an fhearainn, agus chaidh sanas a chur anns a鈥� ph脿ipear-naidheachd. Ach goirid 脿s d猫idh sin, nochd sanas eile sa ph脿ipear bho fhear, Seumas Busby. 鈥溾�橲 ann leamsa a tha am fearann sin,鈥� thuirt e, 鈥渁gus cha bu ch貌ir do dhuine sam bith eile gnothach sam bith a ghabhail ris, 脿s aonais cead bhuamsa.鈥�

Faclan na Litreach: raointean 貌ir: goldfields; m猫inneadair: miner; cuidhteas: receipt; Roinn an Ionmhais: Department of the Treasury; sgapte: scattered; Baile nan Teantaichean: 鈥淐anvastown鈥�; pailt: numerous.

bhiodh m猫irlich a鈥� feitheamh aig oir nan rathaidean: robbers[bushrangers] would wait at the sides of the roads; bhiodh e a鈥� reic sin do dh鈥檕ifis air anraon: he would sell that to an office on the field; luach an 貌ir: the value of the gold; 鈥檚 egoid nam bileagan a bha fa-near do X: X were intent on stealing the pieces of paper; a鈥檆umail cheanglaichean be貌 eadar na daoine aige: keeping the links between his peoplealive; cha do rinn iad cron air: Donald they didn鈥檛 harm him; bha cothrom aige facal anTighearna a sgaoileadh: he had an opportunity to spread the word of the Lord; thug e troddhaibh: he scolded them; is iongantach mura robh iad toilichte: I reckon they were pleased;soraidh a leigeil leis: to farewell him; bha d貌rainn a鈥� feitheamh ris: tragedy was awaitinghim; bha an tri霉ir mhac as 貌ige aig Tormod marbh: Norman鈥檚 three youngest sons weredead; is beag an t-iongnadh: it鈥檚 hardly surprising; co-cheangailte ri gn矛omhachas an 貌ir:connected to the gold industry; bhrosnaich esan iad a dhol ann: he encouraged them to gothere; cha robh X aca tuilleadh: they no longer had X; dh鈥檉heumadh X feitheamh gus antilleadh i: X would have to wait until she returned; na b鈥� fhaide deas: further south; lorg iadfearann math: they found good land; rinn iad tagradh: they made an application; 鈥檚 annleamsa a tha am fearann sin: that land belongs to me; cha bu ch貌ir do dhuine sam bithgnothach a ghabhail ris: nobody should interfere with it.

Faclan na Litreach: raointean 貌ir: goldfields; m猫inneadair: miner; cuidhteas: receipt; Roinn an Ionmhais: Department of the Treasury; sgapte: scattered; Baile nan Teantaichean: 鈥淐anvastown鈥�; pailt: numerous.

Gn脿ths-cainnt na Litreach: Ghabh e ris a鈥� chuireadh: he accepted the invitation.