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Be aware there were two major migration periods of the early settlers from Scotland. There were the groups who migrated from Northern Ireland and Scotland to escape religious persecution, this migration occurred in the early to mid 1700's. Hunter's book focuses primarily on the later migrations in the late 1700's that extended into the mid 1800's. The later migrations were the result of the highland chief's clearing their land of their loyal clansmen to make way for the sheep grazing leases. It became more profitable for them to lease land for sheep grazing than to rent it to the early Scottish highlanders.
This book covers the emigrations into Northern Canada, the establishment of the fur trading business, the formation of the Northwest Company and it's subsequent merger with the Hudson Bay Company. You will enjoy the account of how the the Northwest Company operated and their respect of Scottish customs. Another interesting account is the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway across Canada and the role the Scottish immigrants and their descendants played in the history of Canada.
This book is a great read and is more enjoyable reading than "The Highland Clearances" by John Prebble. It is my opinion that both books should be read by anyone with an interest in the clearances, reading both books will give the reader a greater appreciation for the hardships the Scots endured during this period. The books were written from two different perspectives and involved observations from two different eras.
This post has been edited by MacPatrick: 14 June 2008 - 10:21 AM
