Volume 3 - Electric Scotland

210 AGRlCULTURr.
plough: since tliat is so contrived as to admit of being-
lifted round or over stones, and is in use precisely in the
same sort of land as that under review.
It is plainly impossible that agriculture can be con-
ducted properly, under such a system and in such land
as this. Thus far the Highland small tenantry may be
excused, since they could not easily do much better. It
Avere to be wished, however, that they would farm to
more purpose where they labour under no such disabili-
ties ; since there is far too much of the ancient system
yet remaining. It would not indeed be very easy for a
cursory observer to find specimens of the worst agricul-
ture of former days ; but there are many places where
that is as perfect as the most strenuous enemy to inno-
vation could desire^ In time, it must be hoped that it
M'ill be only known by such records as this : it need not
be preserved, like a clymore, as a relic of ancient and
regretted days.
It is understood that^ in former times, all the lands of
the vassals, or clan, were held through tacksmen, who
were then the offsets of the family, the brothers, uncles,
nephews, or sons of the chief, his society in peace and
his officers in war. This custom descended, even after
the original state of thinos with which it was connected
had ceased: and the tacksman becamemerely a wholesale
tenant, retailing farms to the people, and, as the respon-
sible person, saving the necessity of a steward. It is
now nearly expired. Canna is still held in this manner
and when 1 was in Lewis, there was there also a consi-
derable number of tacksmen. St. Kilda, as has just been
mentioned, has recently been let in this manner. To
the smaller tenants, the lands were let in joint tenantry :
a certain number of families uniting- to cultivate one farm,
and the whole, individually, as well as jointly, being re-
: