110 BENBECULA. HIGHLAND POPULATION. 



that it is difficult to apply a remedy. He expects that 

 the natural overflowing of people in one place, will 

 without effort discharge its superfluity on those where 

 there is a deficiency. He is unacquainted with the per- 

 tinacity with which the Highlanders adhere to their place 

 of birth, and that, it would seem, exactly in the inverse 

 ratio of all apparent causes of attraction. At the same 

 time it must be remarked, that the insulated state, the 

 peculiar habits, and the language of these people present 

 additional obstacles to migration ; and that many changes, 

 yet far distant, must be made before such a free commu- 

 nication can be established as shall allow it to take 

 place without effort and without pain; before it shall 

 become a current part of the system of action. Any 

 expedients which shall break through these habits and 

 destroy these bounds, will facilitate this measure so much 

 to be wished, and by abolishing distinctions in the 

 community at large, render the interchange of all its 

 constituent parts easy. A common standard of pursuits, 

 occupation, language, manners, and wants once esta- 

 blished, would remove these obstacles ; but an exa- 

 mination of the several means by which this may ul- 

 timately be effected would lead into a chain of discussion 

 far beyond the bounds to which I am limited in this 

 very general sketch of the economy of these islands. It 

 is sufficient to have thrown out these hints on the eventual 

 remedies. It will be seen that much may perhaps be 

 done by methods which, although apparently not leading 

 directly to the wished for alterations, will facilitate and 

 hasten them. The views thus held out, of the facility 

 with which an occasional migration, adequate to meet 

 the varying demands for population in different districts 

 will take place when the total system of the country shall 

 have been changed, are abundantly exemplified in Isla. 

 Here the change is nearly completed, labour has found 

 its level, and no difficulties are experienced either in 

 commanding an additional population when wanted, or in 



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