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404 Gaelic Society of inuerness.
loom weavers in Inverness—that from Conan woven by one Macpliail,
hand-loom weaver, in 1855, he being then about seventy
years old, and was his last weavings.
Perhaps the most interesting is a tablecloth lent me by Mrs
Aitken, which bears the name of Marion Elliot, 1722, and a
specimen, 1 754, of very fine quality. I might multiply specimens,
but tLine will not permit.
Potatoes.—A debate arose after Mr Maclean's paper on
" Rosskeen," the other evening, on the cultivation of potatoes, and
as this is an important article of food in the Highlands, I shall
make a few notes as to the introduction of this valuable and universal
industry, as it has had a very importar t ettect on the habits
and mode of life in the Highlands. The potato w;us at tii-st viewed
with jealousy and dislike, and began to be cultivated with hesitation,
about its moral character, for it was believed " that some of
the more uncontrollable passions of human nature were favoured
by its use."
It is said potatoes were fii'st introduced into Ireland about
1585, by Sir Walter Raleigh, and so extensively cultivated there
that they were a succour to the poor when their cereal crops were
desti'oyed by the soldiers during the civil war. The exact date
of the introduction of potatoes seems uncertain, for Martin in his
"Western Isles" says that in 1689 potatoes were the common food
of the people in Skye. From Ireland they were introduced into
England about the end of the 17th century, and sold in 1694
at 6d. and 8d. per pound. They were first heard of in Scotland
in 1701, and the Duchess of Buccleuch's household book mentions
the esculent as brought from Edinburgh, and costing 2s. 6d.
a peck. In 1733 it began to be cultivated in gardens. According
to Chambers's "Domestic Annals," the field culture of the
potatoes was first practised in the county of Edinburgh by a
man Henry Prentice in 1746. Parker says:— "Potatoes were
introduced into Uist in 1743. In the spring of that year Clan
Ranald was in Ireland, and saw witli surprise and approbation
the practice of the country, and brought home a cargo ot potatoes.
On his arrival the servants were convened, and directions given
how to plant them, but they all refused, and were immediately
committed to prison. After a time they gave way, and agreed
to plant these roots. When ripe, many of the tenants laid these
potatoes at the laird's door, saying, ' I he laird might order them
to plant these foolish roots, but he could not make them eat
them.' " It was ten years latei- before they reached Barra. Some
doubt on this story is raised by the fact that Martin in his