228 HISTORY OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES. 



perfect obedience, except the half of Uist (the duty for 

 which was one hundred and twenty pounds) the total offer 

 of the Marquis seemed to amount to only 300 merks, 

 including the duty for Uist. * They held, therefore, that 

 the rent of the North Isles should be made proportionate 

 to that of the South Hebrides, and that each island should 

 be separately valued. The proposed exemption for nine 

 years they also considered unreasonable, seeing that the 

 Lewis Adventurers, notwithstanding the more difficult 

 nature of their services, were exempted for two years only. 

 Nor did they think it desirable to confer upon the Marquis 

 the powers of lieutenancy which he desired, as it was mani- 

 festly unfair to the King's lieges to serve in a private 

 enterprise of this description. The " gentlemen of Lewis " 

 never sought such a commission, notwithstanding their 

 inferiority in means and influence to the Marquis. And 

 they were further of opinion that the service should be 

 completed within the space of one year.* 



In the following month (April), a fresh rising took place 

 in Lewis. The plan of campaign adopted by Neil 

 Macleod on this occasion, was more creditable to his 

 astuteness than to his bravery. But to a man of his 

 stamp, the end justified the means, especially when dealing 

 with Sasgunnaicli. Neil and his friends planned to effect 

 by treachery what they could not accomplish by force. 

 He sought and obtained an interview with the leaders of 

 the colonists, who had by this time made considerable 

 progress in founding villages, all of them doubtless in the 

 vicinity of Stornoway. He professed to them that he had 

 been mistaken in their intentions, which he now perceived 

 were for the good, and not, as he had supposed, for the ill 

 of the island. He frankly acknowledged his mistake, 

 submitted unconditionally for himself and his followers to 

 their will, promised their obedience, and offered their 

 services in promoting the prosperity of the colony. Com- 

 pletely deceived by his plausibility, the Lowlanders 



* Reg. of P.O., Vol. VII., pp. 340-2. 



