108 BENBECULA. HIGHLAND POPULATION. 



many of these crofters, accommodation has been found 

 on the main land in many instances for a much greater 

 number of people than before ; while a great deal of 

 fresh land has been brought in, from the new stimulus 

 given to the industry of the people by the possession 

 of an independent kind of property, instead of a lax 

 interest in a joint and often-changing lot. In conse- 

 quence of this arrangement, it has happened that large 

 tracts have been thrown into sheep farms, with little 

 difficulty or distress from the removal of the ancient 

 tenants, while the produce of the estate and the pro- 

 prietor's revenue have been materially increased. But 

 cases have also occurred, where the crowd which oc- 

 cupied the common farms of an estate, have been too 

 numerous to admit of a separate lot of sufficient extent 

 being assigned to each, and here the excess of popu- 

 lation has been brought to light by the very same 

 practices which have in other instances caused it to be 

 absorbed in the acquisition of new employment. This 

 event has taken place in North Uist, and to those who 

 are acquainted with the humanity and intelligence with 

 which that estate has been conducted and divided, it 

 will be unnecessary to say that no precaution has been 

 omitted to prevent the evils which have followed. Yet, 

 an hundred families, containing about five times that 

 number of individuals, have been dispossessed, and are 

 now without land, and from the nature of things under 

 the Highland system, with very insufficient employment. 

 A great proportion of that number may fairly be con- 

 sidered as redundant, and there is no doubt that their 

 own interests as well as that of the proprietor requires 

 their removal. Hereafter it is possible, that the changes 

 to be expected in the improvement of the land from 

 the adoption of the new system, may be able to absorb 

 this population or even more ; at present a remedy is 

 wanted for the excess. It may be asked, how the same 

 people were accommodated with land before the division, 



