Alexander 



468 Higldands and Islands Commission: 



arising from these innumerable heaps of corruption is strong and offensive to 

 a degree. However, the bountiful ozune from the Atlantic counteracts it all, 

 Caimichatl and no harm arises. 



If possible, however, the people remove the sea-weed to the ground without 

 delay, and spread it on their fields. The people are aware that much of the 

 substance of the sea-weed is thus lost to them. But they cannot do better. 



Throughout the Long Island the crofters keep stock according to recognised 

 long-established reguhitions among themselves. These vary to some degree in 

 various districts. In Lews and Harris the crofters keep stock according to 

 every pound of rent they pay. This is called Coir-Sgoraidh, grazing-right. 

 Every cow is entitled to her progeny — Bo le h-al. But the number of progeny 

 to which a cow is entitled is not the same everywhere. In some districts the 

 cow is entitled to her calf only, in some to her cal*" and stirk ; in some to her calf, 

 stirk, and two-year-old qney ; while in some other districts the cow is entitled 

 to her calf, stirk, quey, and three-year-old heifer. 



This is called Suim, soum, and a man is entitled to send so many soums to the 

 :jraziiigs of his townland. A man's whole stock is called Leibhidh, and the 

 amount of stock he is allowed to the grazing of his community is called Sum- 

 achadh, souming. Of this Leibhidh he sends so many soums to the townland 

 grazzjg, while he keeps more or less stock of cows and horses at home on his 

 croft. In the three townlaiids of Heisgeir, Hosta, and Caolas Paipil, the tenants 

 are unable to keep any stock at home, being on the Run-Rig system pure and 

 simple. The people make what they call a Sumachadh Souming twice a year. 

 The first takes place at Bealltain, 1st May, and the second, after the last of the 

 markets are held, when they have sold all the stock they care to sell for the 

 year. 



In the Uists and Barra the people keep stock according as they have a whole 

 croft, a half croft, or a quarter croft. Each croft in the \ articular townland is 

 entitled to so many soums. 



If the stock of a tenant be incomplete it is called Leibhidh Briste, ' Broken 

 Levy.' In that case the tenant may dispose of his grazing-right to a neighbour 

 who may have an overstock. 



The tenants of a townland will not willingly allow a fellow-tenant to sell his 

 grazing outside the townland. There are various things which a tenant can do 

 and which he cannot do ; and all these things, so intricate to a stranger, so easy 

 to themselves, are well defined. 



All these stock and land arrangements of the people show that they could not 

 have been devised by fools; nay, that the framers of these regulations must have 

 been slirewd intelligent people. 



Should a tenant have an overstock of one species of animals and an understock 

 of another species, these species are placed against one another. This is called 

 Coilpeachadh, which for want of a better term may be called 'equalizing.' In 

 like manner, if a tenant has an overstock of the old and an understock of the 

 young of the same species of animals, the young and the old are placed the one 

 against the other and equalised. After the Coilpeachadh is done, should there 

 still be a balance against the tenant, he must provide for it specially. This is done 

 by buying grass from a neighbour who is short of stock, or from a tenant in a 

 neighbouring townland. Or perhaps his fellow-tenants may allow the man to 

 retain the extra cow, horse, heifer, stirk, or sheep, as the case may be, on the 

 grass till he can dispose of it at the market. If so, they will exact payment for 

 the grazing, and this pajment is added to the general fund of the community 

 towards purchasing fresh stock. 



