20 THE HIGHLAND CLEARANCES. 



They prayed that they might get the lands of Waterstein 

 now tenanted by Dr. Martin. The petition concluded : 



Further, we would beg, along with our fellow-petitioners in Glen- 

 dale, that the tenantry who have been turned out of Lowerkell, Rama- 

 saig, and Hamara by our ill-ruling factor be reinstated. 



The tenants of Holmesdale and Liepbein, 29 in number, 

 stated in their petition, that 48 years ago the place was let 

 to ten tenants at about ^60, and afterwards re-let to 25 

 tenants at about ^85, besides a sum of ^3 25. 6d. for 

 providing peats for the proprietor. The rents, they say, 

 have nearly doubled since then, and the inhabitants in- 

 creased, the present number being nearly 200, occupying 33 

 dwellings. There was much overcrowding, there being as 

 many as 15 persons upon crofts of four acres. The petition 

 contained the following estimate of factors : " Unless poor 

 crofters are to be protected by the proprietor of the estate, 

 we need not expect anything better than suppression from 

 factors who are constantly watching and causing the down- 

 fall of their fellow-beings, in order to turn their small portion 

 of the soil into sheep-walks." These tenants prayed that 

 the evicted townships of Lowerkell, Ramasaig, and Hamara, 

 should be restored to the tenants, and thus to afford relief 

 to the overcrowded townships. The crofters of Glasvein 

 said they had no hill pasture for sheep, and no peat moss 

 to get their fuel from. When some of the present crofters, 

 they say, came into possession of their crofts, the town- 

 ship of Glasvein was allotted to seven tenants, each paying 

 an average rent of ^5, whereas now the township is in the 

 possession of 12 crofters, paying each an average rent of 

 ^4 or so. They accordingly sought to have this matter 

 remedied. 



It may be stated that most of the tenants of Glendale 



