282 HISTORY OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES. 



The importance of the measures which have just been 

 noticed, in reforming the social condition of the Hebrides, 

 cannot be over-estimated. Gradually, but surely, the old 

 days, and in many respects the bad days, were passing 

 away, and the structure of society in the Isles was shifting 

 from its ancient foundations. Whatever may be said about 

 the policy of stamping out the old language, there can be 

 no doubt that the educational machinery which was set in 

 motion, widened the mental outlook, and softened the as- 

 perities, of the Hebridean people. And the steps taken to 

 convert an aristocracy of fighters into captains of industry ; 

 to teach the lords of the Hebrides temperance, and their 

 dependents total abstinence ; while only partially suc- 

 cessful in their results, paved the way, with the help of 

 education, to a more enlightened conception of mutual 

 duties and responsibilities than had hitherto prevailed. 



The Bond of 1616 was followed by some years of com- 

 parative quietness in the Hebrides. When, in July, 1622, the 

 chiefs paid their annual visit to Edinburgh, they were able 

 to give a satisfactory account of themselves, although their 

 remissness in keeping the parish kirks in a good state of 

 repair was reprimanded by the Council. With the ex- 

 ception of the land trouble between Macdonald of Sleat 

 and Clanranald, they were living in an unwonted atmos- 

 phere of peace among themselves. Clanranald seems to 

 have been the black sheep of the flock. We find him 

 ordered to appear before the Council, at the instance of the 

 burghs, to answer to the charge of molesting and oppressing 

 fishermen in the Long Island. According to this charge, 

 he and his men were in the habit of boarding the Lowland 

 smacks, cutting their nets, and commandeering their fish 

 and provisions. A specific instance is given of Clanranald 

 having seized a boat and taken possession of her nets 

 and herrings, compelling the owner to buy them back 

 from him.* For the protection of the fishermen who 



* There were three lasts of herrings, for which Clanranald demanded a 

 hundred and twenty pounds per last, and three nets, for each of which he 

 required forty pounds. 



