SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS. 553 



Scots which, with the two deer forests* and other casual- 

 ties, valued at 6,000 merks Scots, made a total rental 

 equivalent to about 1,000 sterling. In 1755, tne popula- 

 tion was 6,386 ; in 1763 it stood at 6,938, and the rental at 

 1,200. In 1 79 1, the population was 8,311 ; in 1801,9,168 ; 

 and in 181 1, 10,522, the rental in the last-named year being 

 i 4,697. In 1841, the population was 17,037 ; and in 1844, 

 , when the property changed hands, the rental was 9,800. 

 j In 1851, the population stood at 19,695, of which number, 

 in the previous year, there were no fewer than 11,000 

 persons in receipt of relief from the Destitution Fund, 

 exclusive of paupers on the roll. In 1861 and 1871, the 

 census figures were 21,056 and 23,483 respectively ; and 

 in 1865 the rental was 12,670. During the last thirty 

 years, the increase in the population has been consistently 

 maintained, the figures for 1901 being 28,949. The present 

 rental is 32,768, about one-half of which pertains to the 

 Burgh of Stornoway. It will be seen from these figures, 

 that at no period did the outflow of the population from 

 Lewis overtake the natural increment. 



Harris, including its pertinents, had in 1755, a population 

 of 1,965 ; and in 1765, the number stood at 1,093, wn ^h a 

 rental of 600, which had increased to 3,589 by 1832. In 

 1792, the population was 2,536; in 1824, it was 3,551 ; in 

 1 84 1, over 4,000; and in 1 86 1, the figures were 4, 183, a large 

 emigration to Canada having taken place during the twenty 

 years after 1841. The population in 1901 was 5,253, in- 

 cluding Bernera and St. Kilda, and the rental now stands 

 at 5,145. 



In 1755, North Uist had a population of 1,909 ; and in 

 1765, 2,465, with a rental (including kelp) of 1,300, which, 

 about 1796, was 2,100; in 1851, 3,327; and in 1865, 

 4,155. The population was 3,218 about 1796; 3,010 in 

 1801 ; 3,863 in 1811 ; 4,971 in 1821 ; 4,603 in 1831; about 

 4,418 in 1841 ; 3,918 in 1851 ; and 3,959 in 1861. The 



* The strict preservation of game at that period (1630) is shown by a con- 

 tract entered into in 1628 by the heritors of Lewis, Harris, North and South 

 Uist, Raasay, and Strathordill. (Collectanea de Rebus Alfanicis, pp. 190-3.) 



