It was successive bad seasons in 1881–2, affecting the whole of the western Highlands, which not only caused much suffering but also provided the initial economic impetus for the great crofters’ revolt of that decade. Over 24,000 people received relief in these years. Conditions deteriorated once more in 1888. In the Outer Hebrides ‘actual starvation’ was predicted and the inhabitants once more were supported by charitable organizations from the Lowland cities. The
