400 
Sutherland Reclamation. 
the old one. The old rafters were used in the construction of 
the new cottage, and that which was abandoned formed a valu- 
able collection of manure for the next crop." 
Such dwellings were not confined to the remoter part of the 
estate. The thriving, well-built town of Golspie, close to 
Dunrobin Castle, the ducal residence, was but a collection of 
black huts in the year 1812. 
The crofters conducted their tillage in the most primitive 
manner. Drainage was unknown ; mildew and early frost, 
occurring every third or fourth year, injured their crops ; the 
introduction of potatoes, while it enabled a denser population 
in a good season to find sustenance with less labour, greatly 
added to their misery whenever the crop failed. 
Famines occurred more and more frequently ; and, in spite of 
liberal distributions of meal and the remission of their rents by 
their landlords, the people endured at such periods the extremity 
of human misery. Many left their hills to gather cockles on the 
coast, others sustained life upon nettle-broth, and those who 
had cattle bled them and mixed the blood with oatmeal, which 
they cut in slices and fried for food. The Marquis of Stafford, 
afterwards the first Duke of Sutherland, and Lady Stafford, who 
was Countess of Sutherland in her own right, after spending a 
large sum in temporary relief, determined upon a scheme for 
the permanent benefit of the people and the improvement of the 
estate. They removed the crofters from their inland glens and 
townships and settled them upon the coast, giving each family, 
at a low rent, sufficient land for their support. Facilities were 
afforded them to join in the herring fisheries, then rising in 
importance, while it was hoped that they would also prosecute 
the cod and ling fishery. Although this compulsory migration 
could not be effected without violating that passionate love of 
home that dwells in the hearts of every mountain race, there 
is no doubt that the severity of the remedy was fully justified 
by the gravity of the case. But for this step there is every 
reason to believe that the famines in Sutherland would have 
culminated in sufferings not a whit less intense than* tiiose of 
Ireland in 1847. 
The removals were commenced in 1807, and completed in 
1819. Two of the worst years of famine occurred during the 
period of transition, viz. in 1812-13, and in 1816-17 ; since 
that time famine has been unknown. Although the ling and 
cod fisheries have not been pursued with any vigour, most of 
the able-bodied men have joined in the herring fishery, thus 
obtaining an increase of income independent of the annual pro- 
duce of their crofts. 
In the time of greatest suffering, relief-works were started 
