CHAP. xi. EXPATRIATED HIGHLANDERS. 147 



they were, to make room for sheep, and afterwards for 

 deer. This was during the time that Sir John Sinclair 

 was so much bent upon introducing the Cheviot breed 

 of sheep into Scotland The Highlanders were thought 

 to be idle, and they were accordingly driven away, or 

 forced to emigrate. It was thought to be "for their 

 good." 



Yet the poor folks did not think it for their good 

 to leave their homes amongst the hills in which they 

 had been born. But the law was against them. The 

 chiefs insisted on their pound of flesh, and the High- 

 landers were expelled, and emigrated in all directions. 

 If they did not leave after their notices had expired, 

 their houses were pulled down, and sometimes they 

 were burnt down, leaving only blackened ruins. One 

 old paralytic woman was actually burnt in her bed. 



In 1795, Sir John Sinclair raised a regiment, the 

 Caithness Highlanders, consisting of 1000 stalwart 

 men. No such regiment could be raised now. The 

 Highlanders are now in Canada, and sheep supply their 

 places. Emigration still continued to go on. In 1841 

 Dick wrote to his sister : " Emigration to America is 

 fast thinning the moors of this cold bare country ; and 

 soon, very soon, it will be bare of population with a 

 vengeance. Two ships have already sailed. A third 

 and a fourth are expected to sail this season. Many 

 hamlets have been pulled down, and those that have 

 not been pulled down are to let!" The flag works at 

 Thurso, and of Mr. Traill of Castletown, gave employ- 

 ment to many of the expatriated clansmen ; but still, 



