22 ON THE AGEICULTUEE OF THE COUNTY OF SUTHERLAND, 



adopted at Duiirobin before the advent of the present century, 

 and so well did they thrive there, that in 1807 eight milch cows 

 were valued at £18 each, and the stots and heifers, from two to 

 five years old, at an average of £15 each. The general breed of 

 cattle, however, was the small black cattle of Skye and Assynt, 

 " well shaped, short legged, and hardy ; the colour in general 

 black, with come exceptions." When mated with West High- 

 land bulls these native cows produced excellent stock, and 

 Youatt says that, though smaller than the cattle of Caithness, 

 these black cattle of Sutherland were " far more valuable, re- 

 quiring only to be crossed by those from Argyle or Skye to be 

 equal to any that the northern Highlands can produce." Captain 

 Henderson states that the four year old stots at Dunrobin farm 

 weighted from 5 to 6 cwts. in the carcass, and the cattle of the 

 country tenants from 240 to 400 lbs. avoirdupois. 



Up to the winter of 1806-7, when they nearly all died of rot 

 and scab, the old Kerry breed of sheep was almost the only 

 variety of the fleecy tribe in the county. A few blackfaced 

 sheep had been introduced before then, but, until the disastrous 

 winter referred to, the ancient breed maintained its sway. The 

 Kerry sheep were " small with good wool, some horned, others 

 polled, some black, but the greater number white, and some of 

 grey colour." They weighed from 28 to 36 lbs. m the carcass, 

 and " the wool of from nine to twelve of them made a stone of 

 24 lbs." The introduction of Cheviot sheep, which began in 

 1806, will be referred to afterwards. Goats were kept in great 

 numbers then, but, like the Kerry sheep, they were almost 

 annihilated with scab and rot in the spring of 1807. The most 

 general breed of horses was the native garrons — a thick low-set 

 hardy breed, at one time reared all over the northern counties. 

 They cost from four to ten gumeas, were from 44 to 52 inches 

 high, and were black, brown, or grey in colour. 



The social habits of the inhabitants were, in these days, very 

 primitive. Their food and mode of living are thus described 

 by Captain Henderson — " The inhabitants near the coast side live 

 principally upon fish, potatoes, milk, and oat or barley cakes. 

 Those in the interior or more highland part feed upon mutton, 

 butter, cheese, milk, cream, with oat or barley cakes during the 

 summer months. They live well and are indolent ; of course are 

 robust and healthy. In winter the more opulent subsist upon 

 potatoes, beef, mutton, and milk ; but the poorer class live upon 

 potatoes and milk, and at times a little oat or barley cakes. In 

 times of scarcity, — in summer they bleed their cattle, and after 

 dividing it into square cakes they boil it, and eat it with milk 

 or whey histead of bread." 



The real condition of those small tenants, who up to 1820 

 cultivated the glens or straths of Sutherland, is a matter of much. 



