The people of Skye and the Uist, where the Macdonalds for centuries
ruled in the manner of princes over a loyal and devoted people, were
treated not a whit better than those on the mainland, when their
services were no longer required to fight the battles of the Lords of
the Isles, or to secure to them their possessions, their dignity, and
power. _Bha latha eile ann!_ There was another day! When possessions
were held by the sword, those who wielded them were highly valued, and
well cared for. Now that sheep skins are found sufficient, what could
be more appropriate in the opinion of some of the sheepish chiefs of
modern times than to displace the people who anciently secured and held
the lands for real chiefs worthy of the name, and replace them by the
animals that produced the modern sheep skins by which they hold their
lands; especially when these were found to be better titles than the
old ones--the blood and sinew of their ancient vassals.
Prior to 1849, the manufacture of kelp in the Outer Hebrides had been
for many years a large source of income to the proprietors of those
islands, and a considerable revenue to the inhabitants; the lairds, in
consequence, for many years encouraged the people to remain, and it is
alleged that they multiplied to a degree quite out of proportion to
the means of subsistence within reach when kelp manufacture failed.
To make matters worse for the poor tenants, the rents were meanwhile
raised by the proprietors to more than double--not because the land
was considered worth more by itself, but because the possession of it
enabled the poor tenants to earn a certain sum a year from kelp made
out of the sea-ware to which their holdings entitled them, and out of
which the proprietor pocketed a profit of from £3 to £4 per ton, in
addition to the enhanced rent obtained from the crofter for the land.
In these circumstances one would have thought that some consideration
would have been shown to the people, who, it may perhaps be admitted,
were found in the altered circumstances too numerous to obtain a
livelihood in those islands; but such consideration does not appear to
have been given--indeed the very reverse.