INTRODUCTION. XV 



When questioned as to these practices on his estate, Dr. 

 Martin said that when he first acquired the property, he 

 " then found the practice of free labour existing," and he 

 continued it. According to one of the witnesses, the Doctor 

 largely increased the number of days, and this Dr. Martin 

 did not deny. Asked whether his manager was in the 

 habit of going round and buying the tenants' cattle ? Dr. 

 Martin expressed unbelief, but added, " My manager might 

 do some things of which I was not aware ". 



Q. " With reference to the custom of purchasing the 

 fish, was that a rule of the estate ? " 



A, " That was the rule before I had anything to do with 

 it." 



Last Spring, Dr. Martin issued a notice which was posted 

 up on the door of the local Post-office, and several other 

 places, to the following effect : 



"All beasts bought from the crofters will be seized, 

 whenever found, unless the purchase price be paid to me." 



This notice I have myself seen, on the igth of May, 

 on the Glendale Post-office door. 



It will, I think, be admitted that these statements, made 

 by the witnesses, admitted by Tormore and Dr. Martin, 

 more than fully corroborate everything that I have ever 

 said or written as to the state of matters existing on 

 the respective properties under their control in the Isle 

 of Skye. I must, however, say a few words more in 

 this connection before parting with Tormore. His failings 

 of memory "without his books," have become proverbial 

 in the West, and it is but charitable to assume that this 

 weakness must be held responsible for contradictions and 

 inconsistencies in his statements, otherwise very puzzling 

 to the disingenuous. He has presented the world with 

 a version of a certain conversation which he alleges to have 



