REPORT
BY
THE CROFTERS COMMISSION
ON THE SOCIAL CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE OF LEWIS
IN 1901, AS COMPARED WITH TWENTY YEARS AGO. 
Posted by No comments:

15. Conclusions

It has often been said, and with truth, that of all parts of the crofting area, that portion which presents the most difficult questions is the Island of Lewis. Not but that some at least of the problems existing there, are to be found elsewhere; but in Lewis they are more pressing, as they affect a wider area and a denser population. The
observations already made tend to prove that these questions and problems have existed for a great length of time; but while of significance from a historical point of view, we think they ought also to be made to lead up to some practical conclusions for the future. Our inquiry as to the Lewis of the past proves that the inhabitants of that Island are worthy of all the attention they have received. Although they occupy a remote, and in some respects sterile Island, they are men of strong physical development, of tough moral fibre, and of undoubted intellectual capacity. The defects now to be found in the Lewisman are mainly those of insufficient education, and of too limited experience of the world—— not defects of character or mind. In short, the Island of Lewis forms a most valuable part of the United Kingdom. An Island which could produce the ancestors of Lord Macaulay, as also Sir Alexander Mackenzie, the Arctic Explorer, from whom the Mackenzie River in North—West Canada takes its name, and Colonel Colin Mackenzie Surveyor—General of India, cannot fail to compel attentive regard. The physical of and moral strength of the Lewisman is partly due to his surroundings. These compel simplicity of life, and foster powers of endurance. They nerve him to face privations before which men brought up under more favourable circumstances would succumb. The cynical critic might indeed urge that Lewis is an earthly paradise, for there is to be found an exceptionally high birth-rate, an exceptionally low death—rate, and, notwithstanding insanitary conditions, a striking immunity from many complaints. If in these important respects the peat hags of Lewis compare favourably with the rich alluvial plains of the East of Ross—shire, is it necessary, such a critic might ask, to make any special efforts on its behalf?

But little argument is needed to show that, despite these facts, Lewis is still far behind the condition of development to be found among the better class of crofters in most quarters of the Highlands, notwithstanding the efforts made for their amelioration in recent years. Thus, to take only one example, in the matter of housing and sanitation, Lewis may be said to stand alone. It is the sole place left where the custom of only one byre-cleaning in the year prevails.

In answer to the question, what has been done in the past, and with what results, it is here only necessary to summarise. For a considerable period after the passing of the Education Act, thirty years ago, the progress of education in Lewis was slow and unsatisfactory. This was due to causes which have already been discussed. But soon after the issue of the Departmental Minute of 21st December 1888 a great change for the better became apparent. Exceptional relief was afforded to the Lewis ratepayer; the schools throughout the Island were much more largely and regularly attended, and educational matters generally were placed on a sound and progressive footing. It would be difficult to mention any of the public grants in Scotland during the last quarter of a century which have operated more beneficially than this one in the direct promotion of the public weal and the mental development of a community.

But further, twenty years ago, almost exactly, loud calls were made in Lewis, as elsewhere, for State intervention on the land question. 'The demands made were for more land to crofters, fair rents, security of tenure, and, above all, that cottars, or squatters, should be removed, or transferred, from crofting townships, and provided with suitable holdings elsewhere. In a few years afterwards, the passing of the Crofters Act operated as a substantial response by the Legislature to these urgings; for it gave security of tenure and the means of obtaining fair rents and of dealing with arrears; but as to the important question of more land, while it has accomplished much elsewhere, it has done practically nothing in Lewis. True enough, crofters have in some few instances received enlargement of holdings by arrangement with the Estate Management; but the sections of the Act which deal with enlargement of holdings have in Lewis remained almost a dead letter. This is not the fault of the Act, but is due to the circumstances of the case. The Act was of the utmost benefit as far as it went, but it did not deal, and perhaps at the time could not deal, with the demands made in Lewis for more land to cottars, or squatters, and these persons remain to this day a serious burden on every, or almost every, crofting township in the Island. So very large a proportion of it is already occupied by crofters that the question of obtaining land for the landless in Lewis is attended with the greatest difficulty.

In addition to the benefits conferred on Lewis in recent times by the passing of the Acts of 1872 and 1886, the Island has profited materially in the matter of rates and taxation by the annual grants provided by the Legislature. The effect of these has been to reduce greatly the local burdens, which were becoming much too heavy to shoulder, as well as to make education free. But not only have the annual grants referred to been made, but Parliament has also provided special grants for the purpose of developing the resources of the Island and improving the condition of the people. The outlays thus made on roads and footpaths, on piers and landing—stages, and on the extension of the postal and telegraphic services, have been in nearly every case of a highly beneficial kind.

So much, then, for the recent past. And it is of consequence to observe that the result of this generous and considerate policy has been, that when we compare the present state of matters with that which prevailed in the Island twenty years ago, a gratifying improvement is to be discerned. Till a comparatively late date a visitor to the Island on successive occasions through long years, would have found no visible improvement. He would have recognised conditions prevailing similar to those which existed at the beginning of last century; except perhaps that in the time of Sir James Matheson the Island was opened up by roads and some little advance made in the matter of education. But during the years to which we have referred a marked improvement has been made in every department of life, and it is no exaggeration to say that the social and individual advancement has been greater during these years than for more than a century before. It is indeed only those who have known the Island in the past, and have re-visited it within the last very few years, who can fully realise and appreciate the nature and extent of the progress made.

But what of the future? Much has been done, but still much remains to do, and not only does the advancement already made lend strong encouragement to further efforts, but the density of the population and the ignorance which still prevails may well likewise induce a continuance of the policy which has been so steadily pursued. A region with the numerous and ever—increasing population of Lewis might at any time become a grave source of danger from epidemic disease, or a scene of misery from lack of food. The object of the public benefactor will therefore naturally be, on the one hand, not in any way injuriously to affect or deteriorate those physical and moral qualities which a life of simplicity and rigour has served to educe, and, on the other, to carry out such additional improvements as will further ameliorate their physical condition and qualify them better for the times in which they live.

As already seen, only two industries of importance are to be found in the Island ——viz., that connected with the occupation of land, and that with the prosecution of these fishing. Thus, there are two classes of small tenants to be found——those who derive their livelihood from the cultivation of the soil and from rearing stock, and those who trust to the harvest of the sea. The difiiculty connected with the occupation of the soil is two—fold. In the first place, crofts, originally somewhat small, though possibly large enough, in View of local circumstances and conditions, have in course of years been subdivided by the occupants. Gradually the Estate Management have too often found them selves obliged to recognise this sub—division in the estate books, and deal with the sub-divided croft as consisting of two and sometimes three separate crofters’ holdings. One effect of this has been to embolden those who had not sub—divided, but who had desired to do so, to carry out such sub-division. Another effect has been indefinitely to multiply the number of holdings which are much too small. For those sub—divided crofter holdings which have been recognised by the Estate Management as separate holdings there is no remedy under the law as it stands. The only remedy is vigorously to carry on the improved system of education which has been so well commenced, with the conviction that as knowledge spreads among the occupants of these narrow home limits they will more and more desire to quit those limits and boldly face the issues of life in the outer world.

But we have said that the difficulty is two—fold. The other part of it is that both on crofts which have not been sub-divided, and on those which have, numerous cottars and squatters are to be found. These occupants have no title, and pay no rent. They have no land, save what they illegally appropriate, or obtain by the tolerance of their crofter neighbours and the Estate Management. If they have stock—and many of them gather stock—such stock grazes on the common pastures of the crofters, to the serious detriment of the crofters’ stock, as while these pastures can graze adequately animals carefully adjusted in numbers to the area and capacity of the ground, they cannot also support stock unwarrantably thrust upon them. What, then, ought to be done for these cottars and squatters? Were they themselves asked the question their answer would be, “Break down the remaining farms in Lewis, and take certain of the lower-lying parts of the deer forests; divide these into individual holdings with an assigned area of common pasture for each new township, and many of us will then have sufficient elbow—room.” Very true, and we are of opinion that this course might with advantage be adopted, at least to a reasonable extent; but even then not all those who should, if possible, be accommodated would get holdings, and if they did, the remedy would be merely a temporary palliative, not a permanent adjustment.

We think, however, there are further answers. In the first place, there ought to be much more rigorous enforcement of the provisions of the Crofters Act against the sub—division and the sub-letting of holdings, and, in the second, we are strongly in favour of establishing and fostering technical instruction in Lewis for the teaching of trades an(l handicrafts, and the elements of scientific avocations. It is probably unnecessary here to enter upon minute details. These it will not be difficult to adjust. We admit that this idea is not new, but it appears to us deserving
of consideration. Whether these or other means of improvement be adopted, we are glad to have had the opportunity afforded us of submitting this Report, and we trust that it may be found useful in furthering the development and improvement of the Island to which it refers.

DAVID BRAND.
W. HOSACK.
P. B. MACINTYRE
WILLIAM MACKENZIE, Secretary and Principal Clerk

EDINBURGH, 31st March 1902.
Posted by No comments:

14. Social and domestic life


The social and domestic life of the Lewis peasantry may be characterised as quiet and uneventful in the extreme. Few subjects of a public nature withdraw their attention from their daily avocations. They celebrate the New Year; and a wedding is the occasion for great rejoicing. Death on the other hand usually brings a cloud of sorrow over a whole district; and funerals are largely attended.
Formerly, in the Western Islands, funerals sometimes became orgies, and an old saying illustrative of this is that one funeral is better than twelve Sacramental gatherings. (Is fhearr aon torradh na da chomanachadh dhiag.) The Lewis funeral of to-day is, however, most decorous, and in_every way in harmony with the situation.

The Sacramental gathering is also an event that moves the rural life of Lewis. Some people consider it a duty to attend most of the Communion services in the island. These last from Thursday till Monday in each district; and during their continuance every house within a radius of some miles from the church is filled with visitors from other districts.

The Lewis Islanders are indeed a quiet, serious people, and not given in any large degree to amusements. Games such as jumping, shinty, putting the stone, &c., are described as having “ gone out of use” among adults prior to 1833. Martin mentions that in his time (circa 1695) the Lewis people were “ very dexterous in the exercises of swimming, archery, vaulting or leaping.” He also says they were great lovers of music, and that when he was in the island he got an account of eighteen men who could play the violin well without having been taught.

The Lewisman of a hundred years ago does not appear to have had the same gravity of demeanour as his descendant of to—day, if we accept the statement of the Rev. John Lane Buchanan, who was “ Missionary Minister to the Isles from the Church of Scotland from 1782 to 1790. In a volume published in 1793, in which he describes his Hebridean experiences, he says the British laws had been introduced by the Seaforth of that period to the Island of Lewis. Referring to the manners and customs of the people, he praises their music and dancing. “In Lewis” he says, “ since their late happy change from servitude to freedom by the present noble minded proprietor, they are animated with such life as to meet in companies, regularly every week, at stated places, where both old and young take their turn at this agreeable past—time (dancing), when they exercise themselves with amazing alertness and spirit. [“ Travels in the Hebrides 1782 to 1790,” p. 81.]

These weekly dances have long since been discontinued-probably at a date beyond living memory—and in neither of the Statistical Accounts is mention made of them. Rev. Wm. MacRae, Minister of Barvas, writing in the New Statistical Account (1836), gives a description of his parishioners which it is believed was applicable to all the country districts of the island at that time. After stating that in their habits much cleanliness can scarcely be expected, considering their poverty and the wretchedness of their habitations, he proceeds
—“ Their mode of living most closely approaches the pastoral, without arts, trade, or manufacture, navigation or literature, their whole round of duty consists in securing fuel, in sowing and reaping their scanty crops. and in rearing their flocks, and tending them at pasture. Yet in these limited circumstances, while supplied with food and clothing of the plainest description, and able to pay their rents, their simple cottages are abodes of happiness and contentment. Blue kelt is almost the only dress worn by the men, and stuffs, variously striped, by the women, with under dresses of plaiding, all home-made; In many instances, however, cotton shirts and print gowns are beginning to supersede the use of some of these articles.”... “Their ordinary food consists of oat and barley meal, potatoes and ilk, variously prepared. Their domestic economy is frugal and moderate beyond conception. The produce of a foreign soil, as tea, coffee, and sugar, and the common conveniences of art, as knives, forks, &c., are to them altogether alien.” (Ross and Cromarty, p. 147.)

In 1841 Mr. Thomas Knox, the then factor for Seaforth in the Island of Lewis, was examined before the Select Committee of the Houses of Parliament previously mentioned. Mr. O’Brien, a member of the Committee, asked him what were the ideas of comfort with respect to residence and food entertained by the Lewis people. He replied, “ that they should have, of course, a house and plenty of firing, which is very easily procured in all parts of Lewis; and potatoes, some grain, one to five cows, and a few sheep.” (Q. 2270.)

In answer to further questions, Mr. Knox stated that such of them as fished had plenty of fish. That, with potatoes, was the common diet of the country.
Lord Teignmouth.—What sort of fish?
Mr Knox. —The smaller sort of fish, haddocks, and the heads of the cod and ling.
Mr. O’Brien.—Do they ever eat of meat ?
Mr. Knox.—Not generally. I have seen dried mutton, a sort of ham.
Mr. O’Brien.—Do you conceive that a person living in a house, without a chimney, and with scarcely a window, and eating potatoes, with fish occasionally, is not a poor person ?
Mr Knox.—He is not accounted a poor person in Lewis; they do not among themselves consider a person in those circumstances to be poor.”

Such was Mr. Knox’s views as to the standard of comfort prevailing in his time. Matters have greatly changed since the minister of Barvas wrote in the New Statistical Account and Mr. Knox gave his evidence, but it cannot be said that all thef changes have tended to promote the health of the people. In the matter of underclothing, cotton fabrics have in a large measure superseded the old woollen home-spuns, and rheumatism in an increasing degree has followed the change. With regard to food, the potato still holds its place. It is probably the only native product that has not had to yield to imported articles. Porridge is not so much a staple article of food as formerly, and the home—made barley bannocks have in a large measure been supplanted by loaf bread. While the population increased to the extent previously shown, the land in occupation of the peasantry has practically remained the same. This in itself necessitated the importation of food. The cottar population having no right to keep stock, are, as a rule, without cows and accordingly without milk for their children. Eggs are very little eaten by the peasantry. Indeed the egg passes as a coin of the realm, and may be seen handed over the counter in a country shop in exchange for a newspaper or a postage stamp. The local merchants take eggs in barter for tea, sugar, tobacco, paraffin, &c. The tea-pot is constantly at almost every fire-side, and excessive tea-drinking has led to dyspepsia and nervous diseases.

In the matter of light, bog fir dried and cut into small splinters, supplemented by the peat fire on the middle of the floor, formerly lit the home during the winterevenings. It gave way long ago to the cvmizie with its primitive wick and fish-oil; while the cruisie, in turn, is now rarely to be seen, paraffin being used in every house. On the subject of clothing, it is of interest to add that the wearing of caps and shoes by the south of the island is a change which Dr. Ross, the medical officer for Barvas, regards as detrimental. “ In former generations,” he says, “ neither boys or girls wore caps or shoes till they were grown up in most cases, and neither their heads nor feet, nor their general health seemed to suffer in consequence. Even nowadays in the case of people who are so poor as not to be able to provide such luxuries for their children, it is a fact that such children are, as a rule, healthier and stronger than their better favoured neighbours, even though they may be worse off as recrards food and other necessaries. At any rate there can be no doubt that the changes referred to, both as regards food and clothing, have been prominent factors in bringing about the marked increase which has taken place of late years in such diseases as phthisis, dyspepsia. rheumatism, and nervous diseases.” (Medical Officer’s Report for 1892.)

As to the avocations of the people—fishing and crofting, as also the Militia and the Naval Reserve, have already been referred to. The Militiamen receive their annual instruction away from the island, and the training is in many ways highly beneficial. But it is said by those who are able to judge that it is not an unqualified blessing. The barrack room and the canteen do not tend to elevate character, or raise the standard of morals; and the youth who has not got backbone enough to resist temptation sometimes acquires irregular habits.

A similar observation falls to be made with regard to herring-gutting. The women who are employed at that work do well financially, both in Stornoway and Shetland and on the East Coast; but when away from home restraints some of them are apt to err.On this subject Dr. Ross is emphatic. He does not regard employment at gutting as favourable in any sense. “ Some seasons,” he says, “ they earn a good deal of money, but only, for most, to spend it on trifles. But the effects on their habits, morals, and general health are undoubtedly injurious.”

The labour required for the cultivation of the land falls to a large extent on the women. “ In this and in all other parts of the island,” says the Minister of Stornoway in the Old Statistical Account, “ the women carry on as much of the labour of agriculture as the men.”
[James Macdonald, writing of Lewis in 1811, says :—“ Women undergo fatigues in the labour of agriculture totally incompatible with their sex. They are seen barefooted and barelegged carrying manure and peats in creels upon their backs, and even dragging harrows over ploughed ground; which harrows are fastened by hair ropes round their necks and shoulders.”—(Agriculture of the Hebrides, pp. 812-3.)]

Women engage in outdoor work throughout the Highlands as well as in Lewis. But it will be found as a rule that more of the rough work of the holding devolves upon the women in those places where the Norse element is strong than in the places that are purely Celtic. The reason for this is obvious. The Norseman is fond ofthe sea and occupies a large part of his time in sea-faring pursuits. Accordingly, much of the agricultural work in connection with his home of necessity devolves upon the women.The Celt, on the other hand, is a landsman, and when he can get land does not take kindly to the sea. He is accordingly more at home than his Norse brother, and naturally relieves the female members of his household from the rougher kinds of land work.

This appears to have been the case among the Norse people from Viking times. The men then engaged in field sports, fishing, Viking expeditions, &c. They also had chess and various in-door games. The higher class of women did embroidery and other fancy work, but “ the general occupation of ordinary women was to milk cows prepare food and drink, serve the men, work in the field, and specially make the hay card wool, attend to the clothes, wash the men’s heads, and pull off their clothes when they went to bed.” (Du Chailly’s Viking Age, Vol. II., p. 363.)

The foregoing description of the duties ‘of women during the Viking period pretty correctly describes those of the Lewis woman of to-day. She carries the seaware or other materials for manure in a creel on her back, and sometimes tills the land; she weeds and reaps, and carries the corn and hay to the barn in autumn; she likewise carries the domestic fuel on her back from the moor, and knits her stockings as she goes in the same way as her Shetland sister knits her caps or hosiery while similarly occupied. She goes with her cattle in the summer to the shieling and stays there for a few weeks in the same way as is being done in the case of the Norse Saeters (or Shielings) to the day. In her home she attends to the domestic requirements of her family. In particular she is busy at the end of autumn and the beginning of winter carding and spinning for the annual web of cloth, or the season’s blankets and plaidings. The able-bodied men do most of the delving in spring, and afterwards cut the peats. Peat-cutting is usually done in companies. A few families combine, engage one day in cutting peats for one family, the second for another, and so on until the year’s supply has been cast.

Peat-cutting generally concludes the home occupation of the able-bodied men at that season of the year; for whenever that operation is over all betake themselves to fishing, or to whatever other pursuit forms their means of livelihood.

By Martinmas nearly all are back to their homes, and there they remain (their time being largely unoccupied) until next season’s work is begun.

During this period the ceilidh—an old Celtic word for which there is no precise equivalent in English—forms the principal means of recreation and instruction, and may be described as an unconventional “at home” to which all are welcome. It may be held in any house, but the favourite resorts are those where the head of the house is an intelligent, communicative man, or where there are a number of daughters. To such a house or houses young men and women repair in large numbers after nightfall. Here old tales are rehearsed and songs sung, or the public questions of the time are discussed. Thus these gatherings frequently afford instruction as well as amusement, and in many respects are a species of evening continuation schools. It ought to be added that no industrious woman goes to a Ceilidh Without having with her such an amount of sewing or knitting as will occupy her time throughout the evening.

The popular concerts so common throughout the rural districts of the mainland have not yet obtained a solid footing in the country parts of Lewis; but the ceilidh provides an alternative which satisfies the wa.nts of the people in respect of amusements. Among the social usages a courting custom which prevails to a considerable extent in Lewis, and appears to be a heritage from the time of the Norse occupation of the island, may be mentioned. Du Chaillu found the same custom in Sweden, and makes reference to it in the Land of the Midnight Sun thus :—“Among the ancient customs of the rural population that still prevail in many parts of the country is that of ‘ bundling,’ called here frieri, which really means ‘ courtship.’ I have occasionally witnessed it, and it has afforded me at times much amusement. On Saturday it is usual for the parents who wish to have a good night’s rest, and do not want to be kept awake by constant knockings, to leave the doors open; for, if they are blessed with many daughters, they may be sure that there will be no end of visitors.”... “ It is generally arranged that the hour of arrival [of the young men] shall be after the old
folks have retired” (Vol. 1., p. 430).

Elsewhere he says, “Elsa Karolina and one of the daughters slept together, while the eldest daughter slept near me, bundling with her sweetheart, this being the lovers day” (II., p. 66).

The custom is general in Shetland, is met with in Orkney, and is also common in Lewis. Among the peasantry of Shetland and Lewis it has continued notwithstanding the strictures passed upon it by many, and is now a recognised custom, rarely abused. Writers on Shetland deal with it, and also with the “Flatchies” or “lang beds” in the barns, in which male and female sleep after a wedding. Dr. Robert Cowie in his volume
on Shetland speaks of the latter as follows :—

The dancers, instead of returning to their homes [after the wedding festivities], adjourn to the barn of their host’s cottage, which serves as a dormitory, the members of each sex being alternately ranged along the floor on a huge couch of straw.”... The people enter quite innocently into these ‘barn bundlings,’ as they are termed, and both statistics and the testimony of respectable persons who have taken part in them, prove that nothing immoral occurs” (p. 102). In a note to this passage Dr. Cowie says;—“Perhaps the most marked feature in the character of the female Shetlander is her extreme modesty and delicacy. Rudeness and coarseness of language are unknown” (p. 305.)

The statistics published by the Registrar General go to show that in so far as the relations of the sexes are concerned, the same high standard of morality referred to by Dr. Cowie among the Shetlanders, prevails also among the Lewis peasantry. Taking every fifth year from 1880 to 1899 (the Report for 1899 being the last published), it is found that the percentage of illegitimacy to the total number of births in Lewis varies from 1.9 to 3.2; while on the mainland of Ross and Cromarty the lowest corresponding figure during the same years is 6.3 and the highest 7.0.

The percentage of illegitimate to the total births in the seven crofting counties during 1899 was as follows:— Argyll, 7.5; Inverness, 8.4; Ross and Cromarty, 4.6; Sutherland, 4.2; Caithness, 11.1; Orkney, 6.3; and Shetland, 3.0. In contrast with these figures, it may be stated that the percentage for Morayshire in the same year was 12.7; for Banffshire, 13.5, and for Wigtownshire, 14.6. It will be observed that the standard of morality shown by the Lewis peasantry brings down the rate of illegitimacy for the County of Ross and Cromarty as a whole. The figures applicable to 1899 for Lewis alone being 1.9; for the mainland only, 7.0; but for the whole County, including Lewis, 4.6.

In the following Table the rate of illegitimacy to total births is given as regards Lewis in the first column, and as to the mainland of Ross and Cromarty in the second, in every fifth year since 1880:—

ILLEGITIMACY IN ROSS—SHIRE.
TABLE showing Percentage of Illegitimacy to Total Births in Ross-shire in 1880, 1885, 1890, 1895, and 1899 (being the last published), distinguishing between (a) the Island of Lewis and (b) the Mainland.

(a) Island of Lewis
1880: 2.1
1885: 2.2
1890: 1.9
1895: 3.2
1899: 1.9

(b) Mainland of Ross and Cromarty
1880: 6.3
1885: 6.6
1890: 6.4
1895: 6.3
1899: 7.0

Analysing the figures applicable to Lewis, it is found that the rate of illegitimacy in the rural districts where “bundling” (or, as it is locally known, leapachas i.e., bed-fellowship) mainly prevails is considerably lower than in the registration district of Stornoway. In the rural districts the percentage of illegitimacy to the total number of births varies from 1.2 to 1.8, and in the Stornoway registration district from 2.1 to 3.8.

The figures in detail may be tabulated thus :—

ILLEGITIMACY IN LEWIS..
TABLE showing the Percentage of Illegitimate to Total Births in the Island of Lewis in the years 1880, 1885, 1890, 1895, and 1899 (being the last published), distinguishing between (a) the Rural Registration Districts and (b) the Stornoway Registration District.

(a) Rural Registration Districts.
1880: 1.8
1885: 1.5
1890: 1.7
1895: 2.8
1899: 1.2

(b) Stornoway Registration District
1880: 2.4
1885: 3.2
1890: 2.1
1895: 3.7
1899: 2.8

Dealing with Shetland in the same manner, the percentage of illegitimacy to total births in the rural districts in 1899 was 2.6, and in the registration district of Lerwick 5.0. In the following Table the number of births, including illegitimate, and the number of illegitimate births in each of the registration districts of Lewis, and also on the mainland of Ross and Cromarty during the five years named, are given :—

1880
1885
1890
1895
1899
Total
Barvas
Total births
172
181
165
169
180
867

Illegitimate
2
1
3
4
2
12
Carloway
Total
103
106
76
92
97
474

Illegitimate
2
4
0
5
1
12
Lochs
Total
146
168
139
137
148
738

Illegitimate
4
3
5
3
2
17
Uig
Total
62
64
61
57
49
293

Illegitimate
1
0
0
1
1
3
All rural districts
Total
483
519
441
455
474
2372

Illegitimate
9
8
8
13
6
44
Stornoway
Total
321
342
366
374
390
1793

Illegitimate
8
11
8
14
11
52
LEWIS
Total
804
861
807
829
864
4165

Illegitimate
17
19
16
27
17
96


In connection with the social condition of the people, a passing reference may be made to the ecclesiastical controversies which have in recent years interfered with the peace of the inhabitants. Prior to the Disruption, dissent in any form did not obtain a footing in Lewis. At the Disruption, however, an overwhelming majority of the population cast in their lot with the Free Church of 1843. The Declaratory Act passed by the Free Church Assembly a few years ago led to another disruption, a considerable number of people having joined the religious body popularly known as “the Seceders.” They have a minister in Stornoway and a considerable following throughout the island.

The union of the Free Church and the United Presbyterian Church in 1900 led to fresh divisions. All the Free Church clergymen of the island, except those of Back and Park, joined the United Church, but their flocks got divided; and, according to the current issue of Oliver & Boyd’s Almanac, there are the following charges in connection with the various denominations throughout the island :—

Established Church.—Barvas, Cross, Knock, Lochs, Carloway, Uig, Bernera, and Stornoway.

United Free Church.—Back (vacant), Barvas, Carloway, Cross, Kinloch, Knock, Lochs, Park (vacant), Shawbost, Stornoway, and Uig. (There are three congregations adhering to this denomination in Stornoway.)

Free Church.—Back, Park, Barvas, Carloway, Cross, Kinloch, Knock, Lochs, Shawbost, Stornoway, and Uig. (Except Back and Park, all these are returned as vacant.)

Free Presbyterian Church.—(Popularly known as “the Seceders ”) Stornoway.

Scottish Episcopal Church.—Stornoway.

The zeal with which some of the contending sects maintain their respective interests may be illustrated by reference to a recent case before the Commission. The proprietor of Lewis applied to resume a small piece of common ground in the occupation of crofters, in order that the same might be feued to one of the dissenting denominations for the building of a church thereon, in the neighbourhood of an existing church. A section of the crofters interested favoured the application, while another opposed it, giving the following as one of their reasons :—“ The two churches, if placed near each other, would lead to offence and possibly to a breach of the peace.”

The rancour and bitterness with which these ecclesiastical controversies are conducted have tended to break up old friendships and to disturb the peace of the social life of the people where they prevail.
Posted by No comments:

13. Crime

Serious crime is of rare occurrence in Lewis. Occasionally a wave of excitement passes over the community, and during its continuance excesses are committed which reflect on the general good conduct of the inhabitants. But apart from such excesses and occasional brawls in Stornoway, the behaviour of the people as a whole, in so far as matters calling for police intervention are concerned, is exemplary.

In the statistics of crime published annually by the Police authorities charges are divided into three classes——(1) Offences against the person; (2) Offences against property; and (3) Miscellaneous. In the first of these classes are included assaults of a serious nature, deforcement, and refusal to aid the officers of the law; concealment of pregnancy, &c.; and in the second, thefts, falsehood, fraud, and wilful imposition, wilful fire-raising, rioting, &c. The third category embraces disorderly conduct and breaches of the peace, petty assaults, cruelty to animals, the being drunk and incapable, perjury, contravention of various statutes, including the general Police Act, 1862, the Education Act, the Fishery Acts, &c.

An examination of the criminal statistics applicable to Lewis for the period from 1880 to 1900 shows that the number of offences under the first and second classifications is very small, particularly in the rural districts. It may be, however, that there are undetected crimes committed in these districts, and a Gaelic proverb current in the Lewis, “Is iomadh fear a ghoid caora nach deach leatha air taod gu Steornabhaigh ” (Many a man stole a sheep who did not lead it on a halter to Stornoway), lends weight to this surmise. The number under the head of Miscellaneous is considerable as compared with the other two; but having regard to the population of the island and the large influx of strangers to Stornoway during the fishing season, it is really small, and furnishes ample testimony to the law—abiding character of the people.

In these statistics, Stornoway presents an unenviable contrast to the other districts of Lewis, for the number of offences against the person and against property committed within the Parish is, as a rule, greater than the number in all the rest of the island; while as regards miscellaneous offences an overwhelming proportion of the same is recorded. It would be a mistake, however, to assume that the offenders are all residents in Stornoway. A great many of these offences consist of petty assaults, breaches of the peace, and disorderly conduct—offences which, as a rule, are the result of intoxication.

The total number of miscellaneous offences committed in the island in 1880, for instance, was 76, of which two were in the Parish of Uig, and the remaining 74 in that of Stornoway. Of the latter, assaults, etc., number 20, and drunk and incapable 5, while there were 45 contraventions of the General Police Act. In the following year the total number of miscellaneous offences was 60, two of which were committed in Barvas, and the remaining 58 in Stornoway. Of the latter, 28 were petty assaults, breaches of the peace, &c., while 5 were the result of drinking to excess, and 22 were contraventions of the Police Act. Without going into details for each year, it may be remarked that in
1885 there were 146 miscellaneous offences dealt with by the police in Lewis. Of these 121 were in Stornoway—one—half consisting of petty assaults, etc. In 1890 the total number had increased to 255, of which 184 were committed in Stornoway. Of the latter 100 were petty assaults and disorderly conduct, etc. In 1895 miscellaneous offences numbered 271, 207 being in Stornoway. Of that number, 105 were under the category of petty assaults, etc. Lastly, in 1900 the total had risen to 371. Of these, 306 were in Stornoway, of which 118 were petty assaults, and the remainder contraventions of various statutes. It may be remarked that in 1899 nineteen persons a very small
number——are returned as “drunk and incapable” in Stornoway. The explanation of the large number of offences, more or less traceable to drink,in Stornoway is that there are no licensed places in any other part of the island. Stornoway, as the chief business centre, attracts men from all parts of Lewis throughout the year. Arriving there, often fatigued and hungry, recourse is had to spirituous liquors They forget the moral contained in the Gaelic proverb, Is fhearr an teine beag a gharas na ’n teine mor a loisgeas (“ Better the little fire that will warm than the great fire that will burn”), and more is consumed than the dictates of prudence would sanction.

The evil effects of drinking under such conditions were so serious that in 1868 Sir James Matheson addressed a circular letter of remonstrance to his Lewis tenants. According to this letter, offenders came from all parts of the island, but “the young men” of the districts of Point and Back, and “ persons of various ages” from different quarters of the Parish of Lochs, were singled out as offenders above all others. The letter conveyed wise counsel to the tenants in the matter of behaviour in Stornoway, and concluded by threatening that parties afterwards found guilty of the misconduct complained of would be deprived of their holdings. The letter is in Gaelic, and is quoted
in full in the Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness (vol. vii., pp. 116-118).

With regard to the question of licensed premises it may be stated that in 1833 there were 20 in the island. Of these, 18 were in Stornoway—4 inns or hotels, 7 shops, and 7 cellars or taverns. There was one in the Parish of Uig and another in the Parish of Lochs, The latter was at Loch Shell, near where the shooting—lodge of Park now stands.
There was no resident population there in 1833, but the place served the wants of seafaring people.

In the Appendix to Sir John Macneills Report on the Condition of the Highlands in 1851 the number of licensed premises in Stornoway then is stated at 11; 5 inns or hotels, 5 cellars, and 1 agency for a distillery. There were 3 in the rural districts, 1 at Callernish in Uig, 1 at Dalbeg in Barvas, and 1 at Glen, “ a half-way house” between
Stornoway and Barvas.

In more recent times a great diminution has taken place. In 1880 there were 9 licensed places in Stornoway—5 inns or hotels, 3 dealers in spirits, and 1 dealer in porter and ale. The licensed places in the country were then reduced to 1 in the Parish of Uig, presumably Garynahine, which superseded Callernish. In 1890 all the licensed places in Lewis were in Stornoway, and consisted of 3 inns or hotels, 2 dealers in spirits, and 1. dealer in porter and ale.

In 1900 there were only 3 licensed places in the island—viz., 3 hotels in Stornoway. So far as known, shebeening does not prevail to any extent in the country districts, and it may be inferred that the absence of drinking facilities in these quarters explains the absence of offences which are frequently the outcome of drink; while the concentration of the drink traffic at Stornoway accounts for their frequency there.

In 1888, as will be remembered, the Education Department addressed a letter to the School Boards of Barvas, Lochs, and Uig, in which inter alia complaint was made that the School Board authorities did not enforce the provisions of the Education Act in the matter of school attendance. This remonstrance appears to have had the desired effect, and the Boards concerned, as also the Board of Stornoway, took active steps to ensure regular school attendance. These proceedings resulted in swelling the number of miscellaneous offences throughout Lewis, as the statistics applicable to 1888 and 1889 show. In 1888 the total number of miscellaneous offences was 160, but in 1889 it had increased to 281. Of these, 110 were in respect of contravention of the Education Act; thus leaving the ordinary offences at 171, or 11 more than in the previous year. Of the 110 cases in which the parents were charged with failing to educate their children, 44 were from the Parish of Barvas, 22 from Lochs, 33 from Stornoway, and 11 from Uig. The largest number of contraventions of this class took place in 1889, but the Educational authorities have not wavered in their resolve to insist on the education of the young.
The following Table shows the number of cases of contravention of the Education Act, and the number of miscellaneous offences, including said contraventions, in each Parish, the total number for Lewis, and the total number of miscellaneous cases, also including said contraventions, in each year during the period from 1889 to 1900 :—

[table omitted]

The significance of the foregoing figures consists in this, that the first prosecutions had such a salutary effect on offenders that in succeeding years the Educational authorities were not called upon to take legal action in anything like the same degree. In 1899 the total number of such prosecutions was only 21. The effect of these prosecutions on school attendance has been observed upon in the section dealing with Education.

Stornoway has a monopoly of contraventions of the Police Act. The lowest record of this was in 1893, when the number stood at 21, but in the preceding year it was 68. Taking every fifth year, the numbers of these offences in Stornoway were as follows :—

1880, 45; 1885, 50; 1890, 36; 1895, 57; and 1900, 55.

It may be confidently asserted that offences against the person and offences against property are exceedingly few, when the population of the island, and the large numbers of people from other quarters who visit Stornoway during the year, but particularly in the fishing season, are considered.

Details of the three classes of offences enumerated applicable to each Parish in Lewis in each year from 1880 to 1900 inclusive will be found in Appendix N (pp. 41-46), as also a classification of the offences under the category of Miscellaneous, showing how many consisted of (1) breaches of the peace, petty assaults, and disorderly conduct; (2) contravention of the Education Act; (3) contravention of the General Police Act, 1862; (4) poaching; and (5) various minor offences.
Posted by No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)