Custom and story entitled 'Souming', 15 December 1894
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW1/55
Scope and Contents
Custom and story written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula entitled 'Souming' [number and type of stock an individual croft can graze on a common grazings] describing the ages at which cows were included in the 'leibhidh' [levy], how in 1810 Lord MacDonald and MacCoinnich Bodhar of Lewis [MacKenzie of Seaforth, Eilean Leòdhais/Isle of Lewis] introduced new rules while Clanranald had no souming until 1820. MacRury states that in 1830 his grandfather had to send five heifers to Barra [Barraigh/Isle of Barra] from Carinish [Cairinis, Uibhist a Tuath/North Uist] 'as Lord MacDonald would not grant on any account grazing to any person and not only that but other tenants who was (sic) short of full souming were strictly prohibited from giving it for full value to their neighbours.' He notes the Beinn Mhor a chinn-a-deas [Beinn Mhòr/Ben More, Uibhist a Deas/South Uist] was open to all 'even people from Mull used to send cattle & horses there and take them away without paying a fraction for them.' MacRury states, 'Under these circumstances the tenants who were unsuccessful in rearing stock were not benefited and those who were more lucky were handicaped in increasing their fortune in an honest way.'
Dates
- 15 December 1894
Language of Materials
Gaelic,English
Conditions Governing Access
This material is unrestricted.
Extent
From the Series: 114 folios ; 14 x 20 cm
Physical Location
5.07
Physical Location
folio 19r, line 4 to folio 22r, line 7
- Benbecula Inverness-shire Scotland
- Cairinis North Uist Inverness-shire Scotland
- Crofting
- Customs
- Isle of Barra Inverness-shire Scotland
- Isle of Lewis Ross and Cromarty Scotland
- MacDonald (of Clanranald)
- MacDonald (of Sleat)
- MacDonald, Alexander Wentworth, Lord, 1773-1824 (2nd Baron Macdonald | Member of Parliament)
- MacDonald, Godfrey Bosville, Lieutenant General Sir, 1775-1832 (3rd Baron Macdonald of Sleat)
- MacDonald, Ranald George, 1788-1873 (19th of Clanranald | Chief of Clan Donald | Member of Parliament)
- MacKenzie (of Seaforth)
- MacKenzie, Francis Humberston, Sir, 1754-1815 (1st Baron Seaforth)
- MacRury, John Ewen, c1853-1909 (Torlum | Benbecula)
- North Uist Inverness-shire Scotland
- South Uist Inverness-shire Scotland
- South Uist Inverness-shire Scotland
- Tales
- Taxation
Creator
- From the Fonds: Carmichael, Alexander, 1832-1912 (Excise officer | folklorist and antiquarian | Edinburgh | Scotland) (Person)
- From the Fonds: Watson, William John, 1865-1948 (Professor of Celtic) (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository
Contact:
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
heritagecollections@ed.ac.uk
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
heritagecollections@ed.ac.uk