This is a Gaidhlig work by John Graham who was cleared from the Island of Lewis in 1863. The first part is taken from the Duke of Argyle's book 'Scotland, As It Was and As It Is' vol. 2 published in 1887. This Duke of Argyle quit his seat in the cabinet in protest over the passing of the 'Crofters Holding Act of 1886', it was and remains the only legislation ever introduced in Westminster allowing a measure of protection for the small tenants of the Scottish Highlands and Islands. Argyle was an "Improver" as landlords and factors engaged in clearing liked to style themselves but his words reflect the reality of the transported, they left unnoticed and arrived often unwanted, as paupers.

The emigrants do not generally go to Lowland ports. Vessels were engaged, which come around the solitary bays and arms of the sea. In these, transports spread their sails quietly and unobserved and were soon hull down on the neighboring ocean. On the other side of it, as quietly and unobserved, they landed their invaluable freight. Spreading broadcast the seed of a noble race over immense and fruitful lands.

A Nameless Poem by John Graham (written around 1875)

This work landed him in court; it was thought to be discouraging immigration into the Eastern townships of Quebec. Next to Cape Breton this area had the greatest concentration of gaidhlig speakers in the 'new' world even into the early 1900's.

1. Be siod bliadhna na h-eiginn
Shil na speuran na frasan
Bha an crobh air na steillean
Ri dol eug leis an acras
Cha robh connadh ri fhaotainn
Air gach craobh do'n bhaile
'S chaidh gach brutach agus garradh
Chur gu lar air son teine

1. That was a desperate year, rain poured down
from the heavens, the cattle were dying of
hunger in their stalls, no firewood to be had
from any tree of the town land, and every
hillside and garden stripped bare for fuel

2. Dhuilt an saimarlan siol dhuinn
Air son biadh na siol-chura
'S rinn na ceannaichean cumhnant
Gunn lan an duirn thoirt do dhuine
Mara paigheadh sinn sios e
Leis an iasg bho 'n an dubhan
No le cruna na rioghachd
Cha deid sgriobag air duine

2. The Chamberlain refused us seed for food or
planting and the merchants conspired to give
not a handful unless we paid for it immediately
with fresh fish from the hook or with cash, no
one gets a crumb

3. 'S ann bho loch an Dunain a sheol sinn
Air ar fogradh a Alba
"S iomadh neach a bha tuirseach
Nuar a chaill sinn Muirneag san anmoch
Am bata iarainn gu sunndach
A null leinn gu fairrge
Dh ionnsaidh Baile Doire an Eirinn
Far an d'fhuair sinn te eile gu falbh leinn

3. It was from Loch an Dunain we sailed, driven
from Scotland; many of us were sad and weary
when we lost sight of Miurneag in the dusk; the
steamer moved fast to sea, over Derry in
Ireland where we got another ship to
accompany us

4. An Ealasaid bhoidheach
'S l an ordugh gu guanach
Le cuid chruinn agau ropan
Dol a sheoladh a chuain leinn
Dh'ionnasaidh fearann Cholumbus
Air an turus bu luaithe dhi
Far an sgap sinn uile
Mar bhucas chuileagan an deidh fhuasgladh

4. The pretty Elizabeth, a spired craft, with its
masts and ropes, ready to sail the ocean with
us to the land of Columbus as swiftly as
possible, where we all scattered like flies
released from a box.

5. Bliadhna tri fichead 's a tri
Gur tric a bhios 'nam chuimhne
Nuair fhuair Tomas an-t sarraid
An cabhaig an luib sinn;
Ach leam-sa gum bu sholasach
A bith seoladh gu Quebec
Ann a bata gun cheanna-bheart
lan do garbh-chlachan muille

5. The year of (18)'63, I often think of it, the year
that Thomas the Sheriff officer quickly got us in
his grasp but I was joyful to be sailing to
Quebec in a boat without sails laden with rough
mill-stones.

6. Tha da cheannaaiche lamh rium
Anns a chearnaidh seo dhe' n talamh
Fear anns an Lingwick 'tamh dhiubh
'S fear a fas ann an Winslow
'S cuimhnich ma thig thu
Bi thu aca 'nan inean
Mar gu spionadh tu a chearac
'S gu leigeadh tu I san Fhaoilleach
Chan eil rian agad dhol as bhuapa
Gun bhith air d'fhad anns an Legion

6. There are two merchants near me in this part of
the world, one of them living at Lingwick, the
other inhabiting Winslow and remember, if you
come, they will get you in their hooks and
they'll pluck you the way you would pluck a
chicken and let it loose in the winter; there is no
way to escape them and avoid being a full
member of their Legion of debtors.

7. Ma chluinneas tu mo dhan
san aite taimh anns a bheil thu
Thoir am muir agau an traigh ort
Mas dig thu a dh'aiteach na coille;
Chan eil saoibhreas ri fhaotainn
Air an taobh seo dhe 'n Atlantic
Ach coille mhor dhe 'n speur
Fad's is leir dhomh ri fhailinn

7. If you hear my song where you live, head for
the sea of the shore rather than come to
cultivate the forest; there is no wealth to be had
on this side of the Atlantic, but woods to the
horizon as far as I can see.

8. 'S e Eilean Leodhais an t-eilean
Anns a bheil gach goireas tha feumail
Pailteas airgid an tasgadh
Am banca Ghlaschu is Dun Eideann
'S tribancannman eile
'Chul air a sin ag eirigh
Stiomearan snasail
Tarruing bho fheilleirean

8. The Isle of Lewis is the island which has
everything you need, plenty of money in the
bank of Glasgow and Edinburgh and other
three banks to back them up; and fine steamers
sailing the coasts.