THE FAMINE AND EXODUS. 391 



suited for cultivation. A twentieth part only may be 

 advantageously brought under the plough. It contained 

 sixteen thousand of a population ; and, in spite of the per- 

 severing efforts of the proprietor, these people lived in a 

 state of misery. When the famine came, a fourth died 

 from hunger or disease, without the possibility of help. 

 Another fourth has since emigrated; and, with the aid of 

 money remitted from America, and advances from Lord 

 Lansdowne for facilitating emigration, the still supera- 

 bundant population is rapidly going off; so that in a short 

 time it should be reduced to only an eighth of the ori- 

 ginal number say two thousand, which is reckoned quite 

 sufficient to bring the land into value. The old cabins, 

 which are not worth 50s. a-piece, are being pulled down, 

 and in their stead more comfortable houses, though fewer 

 in number, are erected for the new tenants, and now built 

 by the proprietor. 



It is still the system of cottiers, or small farmers, which 

 will be followed on Lord Lansdowne's property ; for really 

 it does not seem possible to carry out any other to a great 

 extent. But the application of this system promises for 

 the future to be as advantageous to proprietor and tenant 

 as formerly it was disastrous for both. In place of three 

 thousand farms, there will be in all four hundred. The 

 extent of arable land will probably be confined to what 

 will pay a good profit on its cultivation; that is, ten or 

 fifteen acres to each family, making five thousand upon the 

 whole property. The remainder, consisting of pasture, will 

 be occupied by cattle in place of human beings. This, it 

 will be perceived, is the system practised in the High- 

 lands, but on easier terms, as here the -soil and climate are 

 more favourable to manual labour and the feeding of 

 cattle. The return to each family will be at least quad- 



