Rory Macdonald was the landlord’s agent in Camuscross. In 1782 the Macinnes brothers of Leitir Fura were giving him a bit of bother. Here are some extracts from a letter he wrote to the landlord. He writes in English, but would have spoken Gaelic.
"Dear Lord Macdonald
I am scarcely able to put hand to paper with violent rheumatism sciatica. No doubt before I’m dead some villains will have their hands on my lands.
There is a fellow at Leitir Fura, Angus McGinnish who gives a bad name to this country. There is not a year but he smuggles eight or nine hundred casks of brandy and rum. This money goes out of the nation and never returns.
There are three notorious brothers at Leitir Fura: Angus, Donald and John. They have done more mischief to your woods than the whole people of Sleat put together.
I conclude and remain most respectfully your Lordship's most obedient, most humble servant, Rory MacDonald."
Listen to a dramatisation of this letter (Mp3 1.4Mb).
