XV111 INTRODUCTION. 



get an inch of ground in Sleat, but were crowded into other 

 places. Kilbride was cleared, 58 years ago, to make room 

 for the late Rev. John Mackinnon, Parish Minister of Strath. 

 There were 8 lots there, but more families; 5 more were 

 from Carradale, and 9 from Ferrindonald. Those from 

 Carradale were evicted by Tormore, and their lands added 

 to his own farm. 22 families were evicted from Suishinish 

 and Boreraig. Regarding these, fully described in my 

 "Highland Clearances," pp. 236-248, Donald Maclnnes, 

 Duisdale, said, " I remember very well the removal of the 

 people from Boreraig 26 years ago. Some of the people 

 perished from the hardships they had to endure when put 

 out of their houses. It was in time of snow they were put 

 out ; one man perished. He belonged to Suishinish. He 

 was found dead at his own door after he had been evicted. 

 His name was Alex. Matheson. There was great hardship 

 connected with that eviction. The fires were extinguished, 

 the houses knocked down, and the people forced out much 

 against their will, the officers compelling them." 



Regarding Ferrindonald and Carradale, on Lord Mac- 

 donald's property, Nicolson said, "These places, and a 

 number more, are in possession of Tormore, who has Sleat 

 now from sea to sea. All these Clearings were on Lord 

 Macdonald's estates ; the present is the ninth factor under 

 whom I have been, and the fifth Lord Macdonald." 



Donald Mackinnon, Elgoll, on the property of Macalister 

 of Strathaird, stated, "that from the township of Ceapach, 

 no less than 44 families had been evicted in 1852, and 8 

 other townships in the neighbourhood were cleared at the 

 same time. The tacksman who marches with them has six 

 miles in extent, and the whole estate of Strathaird is in the 

 hands of large sheep-farmers, except the square mile which 

 forms the township of Elgoll, into which 64 families 47 



