624 SHORT TOUR OF SCOTLAND. 



to Campbcltown, leaving the other paflengers at 

 Rathlin. That in ronlVquencc of a contribution 

 ;n the well-difpofed inhabitants of Campbcltown, 

 the declarants and their companions have h; 

 a boil to carry them to Grecnock. D< 

 the night before the fhip (truck, nd, 



the commander went down among the pafifengers 

 with an open knife in his hand, and 

 cned with that knife any pcrfon that fhould 

 him in any thing he then intended to do ; upon 

 which he deprived them of their chefts and provi- 

 fion-boxes, and put them all into the hold of the 

 fhip, which deprived them of the power of carrying 

 any neceflaries on fhorc with them, when they were 

 landed at Rathlin. And being afkcd why they 

 re leaving this kingdom, they declare, " That 

 their doing Ib, is altogether owing to their wanting 

 bread at home, and high rents, joined with fevcral 

 fucceflive bad feafons;" and feveral of the other 

 pafiengers having appeared in courle of this exami- 

 nation, they confirm the above declarations, and . 

 lureto fubfcribing, all which they declare to be 

 truth/' 



The paper was figned by 9 pcrfons, moftly farm- 

 ers and labourers, and alfo by the above-mentioned 

 juftices of the peace, and delivered into my cuflody, 

 where it now remains. While the clerk was taking 

 the evidence in writing, we examined a feemingly 

 intelligent farmer, relative to his rent, the quantity 

 of grain fo\vecl, the produce of that grain, the num- 

 ber of horfes, black cattle and fheep on his farm ; 

 when it appeared, that upon a medium of years, the 

 whole produce of the farm, in grain, cattle, fheep, 

 &c. did not amount to the rent which he was bound 

 to pay ; thus as the farm did not pay itfelf, he was 

 giving his labour for nothing, and his family mufl 

 have been fupported by friends, or the petty induf- 

 try of the women and children in fpinning and knit- 

 He faid that many poor men were in the fame 

 fituation, labouring and toiling, not for thcmfelves, 



but 



