VIII. Murchag A’s Mionachag, pp.161-164.

[Popular Tales Stories Contents]

As told by Ann Darroch, James Wilson, Hector MacLean, Islay, and many others in other parts of the Highlands.

MOORACHUG and Meenachug went to gather fruit, and as Moorachug would gather Meenachug would eat. Moorachug went to seek a rod to lay on Meenachaig, and she eating his share of fruit..

“What’s thy news to-day, oh Voorachai?” said the rod.

(Dè do naidheachd an diugh, a Mhurchaidh?)

“‘Tis my own news, that I am seeking a rod to lay on Meenachaig, and she eating my share of fruit.”

(‘Se mo naidheachd fèin, gu ‘bheil mi ‘g iarraidh slat a ghabhail air Mionachag ‘s i ‘g itheadh mo chuid sugh.)

“Thou wilt not get me until thou gettest an axe that will reap me.”

(Cha ‘n fhaigh thu mise gus am faigh thu tuagh a bhuaineas mi.)

He reached the axe.

“What’s thy news to-day, oh Voorachai?”

(Dè do naidheachd an diugh, a Mhurchaidh?)

“‘Tis my own news that I am seeking an axe to reap rod – rod to lay on Meenachaig – and she eating my share of fruit.”

(‘Se mo naidheachd fèin, gu ‘bheil mi ‘g iarraidh tuagh a bhuaineas slat – slat a ghabhail air Mionachag ‘s i ‘g itheadh mo chuid sugh.)

“Thou wilt not get me until thou gettest a stone to smooth me.”

(Cha ‘n fhaigh thu mise gus am faigh thu clach a lìobhas mi.)

He reached stone;

“What’s thy news to-day, oh Voorachai?” said the stone.

(Dè do naidheachd an diugh, a Mhurchaidh?)

“‘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.”

(‘Se mo naidheachd fèin, 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.)

“Thou wilt not get me,” said the stone, “till thou gettest water will wet me.”

(Cha ‘n fhaigh thu mise gus am faigh thu uisge a fhliuchas mi.)

He reached the water.

“What’s thy news to-day, oh Voorachai?” said the water.

(Dè do naidheachd an diugh, a Mhurchaidh?)

“‘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.”

(‘Se mo naidheachd fèin, 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.)

“Thou wilt not get me,” said the water, “till thou gettest a deer to swim me.”

(Cha ‘n fhaigh thu mise gus am faigh thu fiadh a shnàmhas mi.)

He reached the deer.

“What’s thy news to-day, oh Voorachai? ” said the deer.

(Dè do naidheachd an diugh, a Mhurchaidh?)

“‘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.”

(‘Se mo naidheachd fèin, 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.)

“Thou wilt not get me,” said the deer, “until thou gettest a dog to run me.”

(Cha ‘n fhaigh thu mise gus am faigh thu gadhar a ruitheas mi.)

He reached the dog.

“What’s thy news to-day, oh Voorachai?” said the dog.

(Dè do naidheachd an diugh, a Mhurchaidh?)

“‘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.”

(‘Se mo naidheachd fèin, 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.)

“Thou wilt not get me,” said the dog, “till thou gettest butter to be rubbed to my feet.”

(Cha ‘n fhaigh thu mise gus am faigh thu im a rubar ri m’ chasan.)

He reached the butter.

“What’s thy news to-day, oh Voorachai?” said the butter.

(Dè do naidheachd an diugh, a Mhurchaidh?)

“‘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.”

(‘Se mo naidheachd fèin, gu ‘bheil mi ‘g iarraidh 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.)

“Thou wilt not get me,” said the butter, “till thou gettest a mouse will scrape me.”

(Cha ‘n fhaigh thu mise gus am faigh thu luch a sgrìobas mi.)

He reached the mouse.

“What’s thy news to-day, oh Voorachai?” said the mouse.

(Dè do naidheachd an diugh, a Mhurchaidh?)

“‘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.”

(‘Se mo naidheachd fèin, gu ‘bheil mi ‘g iarraidh 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.)

“Thou wilt not get me,” said the mouse, “till thou gettest a cat to hunt me.”

(Cha ‘n fhaigh thu mise gus am faigh thu cat a shealgas mi.)

He reached the cat.

“What’s thy news to-day, oh Voorachai?” said the cat.

(Dè do naidheachd an diugh, a Mhurchaidh?)

“‘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.”

(‘Se mo naidheachd fèin, gu ‘bheil 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.)

“Thou wilt not get me,” said the cat, “until thou gettest milk for me.”

(Cha ‘n fhaigh thu mise gus am faigh thu bainne dhomh.)

He reached the cow.

“What’s the news to-day, oh Voorachai?” said the cow.

(Dè do naidheachd an diugh, a Mhurchaidh?)

“‘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.”

(‘Se mo naidheachd fèin, gu ‘bheil mi ‘g iarraidh bainne 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 ghabhail air Mionachaig ‘s i ‘g itheadh mo chuid sugh.)

“Thou wilt not get milk from me till thou gettest a whisp from the barn gillie.”

(Cha ‘n fhaigh thu bainne uamsa, gus am faigh thu sop o ‘n ghille-shabhaill.)

He reached the barn gillie.

“What’s that news to-day, oh Voorachai?” said the barn gillie.

(Dè do naidheachd an diugh, a Mhurchaidh?)

“‘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 Meenachaig – and she eating my share of fruit.”

(‘Se mo naidheachd fèin, gu ‘bheil mi ‘g iarraidh sop a gheobh bò – bo bhligheath bainne 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 ghabhail air Mionachaig ‘s i ‘g itheadh mo chuid sugh.)

“Thou wilt not get a whisp from me,” said the barn gillie, “till thou gettest a bannock for me from the kneading wife.”

(Cha ‘n fhaigh thu sop uamsa gus am faigh thu bonnach dhomh o ‘n bhean-fhuinne.)

He reached the kneading wife.

“What’s thy news to-day, oh Voorachai?” said the kneading wife.

(Dè do naidheachd an diugh, a Mhurchaidh?)

“‘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.”

(‘Se mo naidheachd fèin, 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.)

“Thou wilt not get a bonnach from me till thou bringest in water will knead it.”

(Cha ‘n fhaigh thu bonnach uamsa mar an d’ thoir thu stigh uisg’ a dh’ fhuinneas e.)

“How will I bring in the water? There is no vessel but that sowen’s sieve.”

(Dè mar a’ bheir mi stigh an t-uisge? Cha ‘n ‘eil soitheach ann ach an criathar cabhrach sin.)

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 hoodies came over his head, and she cried,

“Gawr-rag, gawr-rag, little silly, little silly.”

(Gòrach, gòrach.)

“Thou art right, oh hoodie,” said Moorachug.

(Tha thu ceart, fheannag.)

“Crèah rooah s’ còinneach, crèah rooah s’ còinneach,” said the hoodie.

(Crèadh ruagh ‘s còinneach, crèadh ruagh ‘s còinneach.)

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 keading 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 reeturned Meenachag had just BURST.