Help
Many of the people were resettled to the coast of Scotland by their clan chiefs to become kelp gatherers, fishermen and a source of manual labor for the fisheries. Housing was scarce, some created or improvised small huts or primitive shelters from any sort of materials they could find. Some of the people were transported to Canada or Nova Scotia.
It was during this period that the gentry of England discovered Scotland as a sort of a "Northern Riviera" and became taking vacations or holidays in Scotland. Some of the sheep grazing areas were cleared of sheep and deer forests created to provide hunting preserves for these folks. The "Deer Forests" proved to be more profitable than raising and grazing sheep.
This interest by the gentry in the recreational aspects of Scotland also helped to create the interest in tartans and highland dress that was seen in the early 1800's. I can now understand the lack of interest we see on the part of some present days Scots in the kilt and other forms of highland dress.
We must remember there were two different periods of Scottish migration to the Americas, the first being the period during the early 1700's. These Scots migrated to the US mostly for religious reasons and the promise of land. The second period beginning in the late 1700's was the result the highland clearances mentioned in Prebble's book.
I will post some more thoughts as I get deeper into the second half of the book.
My reading schedule has changed after I finish this book I will begin reading "A Dance Called America" by James Hunter. I understand there is also a good discussion of the Highland Clearances in this book.
I have purchased most of these books from our forum sponsor Abe Books, I am very happy with the prices, quality of the books and the service.
This post has been edited by MacPatrick: 18 May 2008 - 08:43 AM
