210 A HUNDKED YEAES 



story of another Ross-shire election, which, though it was 

 much farther back in the century, concerned the same 

 old Applecross. In those far-back days, it appears, 

 votes could be handed to the candidate in the form of 

 letters or mandates. Well, there was an enterprising 

 man called Macdonald of Lochinver, and he had noticed 

 on the Applecross property a beautiful native Scots fir 

 wood in Glenshieldaig, on Loch Torridon, which he 

 wanted to buy and ship away south. Now, he was 

 canny, and, as he knew there was a county election 

 coming on, it struck him votes would be more acceptable 

 to Fear na Comaraich (as the laird of Applecross is 

 called in Gaelic) than cash, so he asked him if he would 

 sell the wood for the Stornoway votes. Applecross 

 agreed. Macdonald sailed away in his yacht, the 

 Rover's Bride, for Stornoway, and by threats, and bribery, 

 and cajolery of every kind, he evidently got every vote 

 in Stornoway, and, recrossing the Minch with all the 

 paper votes in his pocket, he handed them to the laird 

 a few days before the election. He then immediately 

 started cutting down the wood. This is the story as it 

 was told to me, and I believe it to be true. 



I have heard also that the same Macdonald once got a 

 wood for nothing by a trick. It was a natural fir forest 

 opposite Ullapool, on the Dundonnell side of Loch Broom, 

 belonging to the wife of the minister of Loch Broom. 

 The bargain was made, and what did Macdonald do but 

 go to the manse with payment on a Sunday. The 

 minister refused to accept money on the Sabbath, and 

 thus it is said Macdonald got the wood and never paid 

 anything for it ! 



