I A Gossip on a Sutherland Hill-side 2 7 1 



;6^6o,000 was transmitted from England for the 

 same purpose, and with the following results : — 



Previously to 1 8 1 1 there was not a carriage-road 

 in the country, and only one bridge at Brora, and a 

 small one at Dornoch. 



Between 181 1 and 1845 above 430 miles of road 

 were made, and many more have since been opened. 

 There is not a turnpike- gate in the country. 



Previously to 1 8 1 1 there was scarcely a cart in 

 Sutherland the property of the people, the carriage 

 of the country being conducted on the backs of 

 ponies. 



In 1845 the tenants paying less than £\o a 

 year rent had 890 carts ; the larger farmers, 240. 



Previous to 1 8 1 1 the cultivation in the interior 

 and on the west coast was carried on by means of 

 the cas-crom, — a crooked stick shod with iron, 

 with a small projecting bar to rest the foot upon. 



In 1845 the smaller tenants owned 569 ploughs ; 

 the farmers, 139. 



Previous to 1 8 1 1 there was hardly a shop in 

 Sutherland, except at Dornoch, one in Brora, and 

 one near Helmsdale. 



In 1 83 1 there were 46 grocery shops, and, 

 oddly enough, one of the first symptoms of the 

 cotters making money was the demand for blacking, 

 a thing unheard of in the good old times. 



Previously to 1 8 1 1 the town of Helmsdale did 

 not exist; in 1840 it exported 37,594 barrels of 

 herrings. 



