XXV111 INTRODUCTION. 



others named, was now under sheep." Allan MacCaskill 

 corroborated this, and added:' "It is 19 years last spring 

 since Tormore became factor, and he left about a year ago. 

 He held in his own hands a considerable portion of the 

 best lands of the estate. He removed the crofters from 

 Lowerkell, Ramasaig, and Hamara. When MacCaskill 

 complained to Professor Macpherson, one of the Trustees, 

 the latter told him that "he would take my holding off my 

 hands, but there was no word about what I was to get instead. 

 I said to myself there was no use in doing anything further 

 about it; it would only be 'the gallows succeeding the fever'. 

 I was the man who summoned the gamekeeper to Court 

 seven years ago for killing my dog, and for firing his gun in 

 the direction of my wife. The gamekeeper was fined IDS, 

 with an alternative of three days' imprisonment. A man 

 gave evidence in my favour in that case, and he was 

 deprived of his croft in consequence. He was the best 

 neighbour I ever had ; I knew he was not in arrears. He 

 gave evidence in the middle of May, at Portree, and next 

 year he and I were served with notices of removal. In 

 1834, Colbost had been cleared to make room for Tolmie, a 

 sheep-farmer, but at the end of his fourteen years' lease, the 

 people got the land back again, when the late proprietor, 

 Sir John MacLeod, returned home from India. MacRaild, 

 the factor, however, unknown to Sir John, took away a part 

 of the towhship worth ^16, but still charged the old rent 

 against the small tenants, though directed by Sir John to 

 give them the whole of the lands at the old rent. The 

 landlord only visited his property once during the last fifty 

 years." Mr. MacLean, Hamara, said, " Tormore was dis- 

 pleased with me because I gave hospitality to two persons 

 who visited the glen, and he threatened to do for me because 

 of that ". 



