XXXIV INTRODUCTION. 



Twenty families were removed from the lower ground of the 

 farm now occupied by Mr. Urquhart, with the Inn, in Major 

 Fraser's time. 



Malcolm Nicolson, Schiadder, stated that originally they 

 held more fertile crofts than they now do, "but these" he 

 said, "we were deprived of; our original crofts were turned 

 into a sheep-farm. There were 42 crofters in all in the 

 place, and we were all removed. Some went to Aus- 

 tralia, some to America, and to various other places. We 

 were then comfortable. We are now quite the reverse. It 

 was Major Fraser who removed us. There were great 

 hardships experienced in connection with the removals from 

 Glenuig. Many shed tears." Angus Maclnnes, merchant, 

 Pecscoraid, said " The removals of the people have had a 

 great deal to do with their poverty. I never heard of 

 removals to a better place. I used to be a crofter and was 

 twice removed." Donald Macqueen, Conista, Kilmuir, 

 stated that the rents had been raised four times, though 

 their hill pasture had been taken from them, and the factor 

 considerately told them that they " could leave if they were 

 not pleased. Eighteen families were removed from Dun- 

 tulm and their lands added to that already cumbrously large 

 farm." The hill pasture -was taken from the crofters of 

 Herkbusta, eighteen years earlier, when it was divided 

 between Monskadt and Duntulm. The tenants of Hong- 

 ladder were similarly treated, their grazings given to the 

 same large tacksmen, and the poor people removed from 

 good arable crofts to very inferior land. That the want 

 of pasture is the main cause of the existing poverty is the 

 universal song. 



Norman Stewart, crofter, Valtos, said that the best piece 

 of the hill pasture was taken from one end of the township, 

 and that overcrowded the rest. The part of the grazing 



