As my previous postings from today have indicated, I have now completed the transcription of the evidence from the 1883 Napier Commission Inquiry from the island of North Uist. In case you are wondering what it is all about, a brief summary.
In the 1880s, living conditions for crofters (subsistence farmer, who leases land from an estate owner) were atrocious. They could not expect to stay on their land for any length of time, had handkerchief-sized patches of land to raise crops on, and their livestock was usually starving to death as a result. A lack of milk meant they gave their children tea to drink. A riotous uprising in the Isle of Skye, 50 miles south of Lewis, opened the eyes of the government to the plight of its poorest residents, and Lord Napier of Ettrick was sent up to investigate.
Today saw a few light showers in Stornoway, but it is still reasonably warm. Tomorrow will see a trip out into the countryside in a car (not driven by me, I should hasten to add), and hope to have a picture or two to show.
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