History of the Clan MacLean from its first settlement at Duard Castle, in the Isle of Mull, to the present period

The Clansmen After Cullouen. 369
and they are here now."' In a conversation I had with Ardgour, July 14,
1887, he informed me that his grandfather used no force in getting the crofters
out of the jrlens and estabiishins; them on the coast. He showed to tliem it
would be better for them, and they removed peaceably. As to changes in
population, I have no figures.
Unfortunately, I am forced to record the name of a MacLean evictor —
not a landlord, but a tool in the hands of ilacLeod of MacLeod. I know
nothing of his history, only as I find it in MacKenzie's Isle of SIci/r (p. XX.)
Dr. MacLean cleared two townships of twelve families. He was not I'twj, in
possession before he began to remove the people. When he found u crofter's
sheep on his farm, and the owner- was not prepared to pay half a crown on the
spot for it, he would have the ears of the sheep cut off close to the skull.
This unwarranted cruelty was certainly very unworthy of his forbears.
Among the MacLeans who have been singled out individually as having
suffered from these evictions and oppressions, I find the following : ]\Iurdo
MacLean testified before the Crofter Commission, that on lord MacDonald's
estate every crofter was compelled to give ten days' work at spring and har-
vest time, and all the wages received for it was abusive language ; the labor
was so severe that it reciuired the strongest people to stand it; they were
compelled to render the service at any time when wanted; even my wife was
compelled to do the landloi'd's work when required; she even could not cet
leave to come home and prepare food for me.* Donald MacLean testified,
they were forced to work ten days a year, a man "or woman from each croft,
under danger of eviction. They had to buy hooks from the proprietor to
shear his own corn, and when thev did not attend to his labor were cliarijed
2». 6d. a day, but when they worked for payment received from Is. to l.s. 6(7.
per day.f Donald MacDonald, factor of Lord MacDonald, used libelous and
defamatory lano-uasje concerning Donald MacLean, a single man, living with
his father at Lochcarron. MacLean prosecuted, and received over £22 dam-
ages ; because of this, his father, aged eighty-one, bed-ridden and on his death-
bed, was evicted, although for sixty years he had not failed to pay his rent on
the appointed da}'. His father, grandfather, and great-grandfather occupied
the same place, and so did their ancestors before them. " It was most pitiable
to see the aged and frail human wreck as I saw him that day, and to have
heard him talking of the cruelty and hard-heartedness of those who took ad-
' Isle of Shyi', p. XI 1 1, f //'»/., XIV,