The book Arran; - Cook Clan

322 THE BOOK OF ARRAN
When to the ship's lee bow we came,
' Come, jump on board,' they cried,
'Twas harder, faith, than cutting peats
The task which then I tried.
On deck they cared not for my tears.
But cursed my tribe, and swore
King George had need of all my sort.
And many thousands more.
They questioned me both one and all.
When to the press-room brought.
Had I the bounty ta'en, or had
Been by the press-gang caught.
Howe'er, I told the honest truth
To all they did inquire,
Although they got me in their grips
Yet small was my desire.
And though I got both meat and drink.
And had no work to do.
Thigh deep I 'd rather work in bogs
Than sail with such a crew.
To Ronald* take my love, I pray,
And tell him how I fare,
Had I ta'en his advice in time.
Less grief were now my share.
An Saoghal
le iain macfhionghuin ^
A SHAOGHAiL bhrcugaich nam bradag, 's neo-chneasda leam thu,
Am fear an diugh aig am bi thu bheir thu 'n tiota ris cul.
Mar speicibh na cartach 'nan deann ruith gun sgios.
Am fear a nis th' air uachdair air an uairs' bi' e shios.
^ Ronald M'Master, a neighbour, who had advised him not to go to Greenock on
account of the presence of the press-gang.
2 John MacKinnon, the author of the two hymns ' Am Bas ' and ' An Saoghal,'
was a school-teacher by profession, and lived in Birchburn, Shisken, about the middle
of the eighteenth century. He was known as an ' T-iarla' (the Earl), for what reason
is not now known. The local Gaelic pronunciation of the name is ' MacKennan.'