12 THE HIGHLAND CLEARANCES. 



tion of rent to the other seven crofters in each township, 

 while they have now to bear the burden of paying their 

 shepherd from their own resources. This is a virtual raising 

 of the rents, without any equivalent, by more than 13! per 

 cent., altogether apart from the appropriation of Benlee. 



These grievances took shape long before the present 

 factor came into power, and he himself has stated that it was 

 only since the present agitation began that he became even 

 acquainted with the complaint regarding the shepherds' 

 crofts. For townships to have such a croft is quite common 

 in the Island, and the practice is well known and under- 

 stood. 



It has been stated that the rents are now not higher than 

 they were in 1810, but, apart from the fact that Benlee and 

 the eighth croft have since been taken away, why compare 

 the present with 1810, a time at which, in consequence of 

 the wars of the period, and the high price obtained for kelp, 

 rents and produce of every kind were very high. The rental 

 of Lord Macdonald's Skye property, we understand, was 

 ;8ooo, while in 1830, it fell to ^5000, but no corresponding 

 reduction was made in the Braes. The tenants maintain 

 that they have repeatedly claimed Benlee, and that the 

 late factor told them if they had been firm when the previous 

 lease expired, they would have got it, though whether with 

 or without rent was nqt stated. This is admitted, though 

 different views were held by each as to the payment of rent 

 the tenants expecting they were to get it in terms of their 

 request, without any payment, while the factor says that he 

 meant them to get it on payment of the then rent. In any 

 case it is impossible that they can now obtain a decent liveli- 

 hood without additional pasture for their stock, for they 

 have been obliged to allow a great portion of their arable 

 land to run into waste, to graze their cattle upon it. They 



