1 


O, >s ,  in  5 


////.f 


J\ 


DESCRIPTIO 

O  F    T  H  E 

SCOTLAND. 


CONTAINING 


A  Full  Account  of  their  Situation,  Extent,  Soils,  Produ^, 

Harbours,  Bays,  Tides,  Anchorlng-Places,  and  Fifheiies. 

The  Antient  and  Modern  Government,  Religion  and  Cuftoms  of 
the  Inhabitants  ;  particiihirly  of  their  Druidsj  Heathen  Temples, 
Monafteries,  Churches,  Ciiappels,  Antiquities,  Monumer.ts,  Forts, 
Caves,  and  other  Curiofities  of  Art  and  Nature  :  Of  their  Admi- 
rable and  Expeditious  Way  of  Curing  moft  Difeafes  by  Simples 
of  their  own  Produd. 

A  Particular  Account  of  the  Second  Sight,  or  Faculty  of  forefeeing 
things  to  come,  by  way  of  Vifion,  fo  common  among  them. 

A  Brief  Hint  of  Methods  to  improve  Trade  in  that  Country,  both 
by  Sea  and  Land. 

With  a  New  MAP  of  the  Whole,  defcribing  the  Harbours,  An- 
choring-Places,  ai\d  dani^erous  Rocks,  for  the  benefit  of  Sailors. 

To  which  is  added,  A  Brief  Defcription  of  the  Ifles  of  Orkney  and 
Schetland, 


By  M.  MARTIN,  Gent. 


The  Second  Edition,  very  much  Correded. 


LONDON^ 
Printed  for  A.  B  E  L  L  at  the  Crofs-Keys  and  Bible  in  Cofnhlll ; 
T.  Va  R  N  A  M    and    J.   O  3  B  O  R  N    in    Lomhard-ftreet  ;   W. 
Taylor  at  the  Ship,  and  J.  B  a  K  E  R  and  T.  VVa  r  N  E  R 
at  the  Black  Boy  in  Paternofier-Kow.     M.  DCC.  XYI. 


(iii) 


To  His  Royal  Highnefs  Prince 
GEORGE  of  Denmark, 
Lord  High  Admiral  of  Eng- 
land and  Ireland^  and  of  all 
Her  Majefty's  Plantations, 
and  Generaliflimo  of  all  Her 
Majefty's  Forces,  &^c. 


May  it  pleafe  Your  Royal  Highnefs, 

AMONGST  the  Numerous  Croud  of 
Congratulating  Jddrejfers^  the  Iflan^ 
ders  defcnbed  in  the  following  Sheets 
frefume  to  approach  Tour  (]^yal  Terfon  :  They 
can  noiPj  without  fujpicion  of  Infidelity  to  the 
a  2  Qiieen 


iv  Dedication. 

Qiieen  of  England,  pay  their  Duty  to  a 
Danifh  ^rincey  to  whofc  Trcdecejfors  all  of 
them  formerly  belonged, 

THEY  can  boaji  that  they  are  honoured 
with  the  Sepulchres  of  eight  IQngs  of  Nor- 
way, ii^ho  at  this  day^  with  forty  eight  I\ings 
of  Scotland,  and  four  of  Ireland,  lie  en^ 
tomhW  in  the  Ifland  of  Jona  3  a  Tlace  fanid 
then  for  fame  peculiar  SanBity, 

THET  pre/ume  that  it  is  owing  to  their 

great  diftance  fro7n  the  Imperial  Seaty  rather 

than  their  want  of  Kati^e  Worth,  that  their 

Iflands  have  been  fo  little  regarded  5  tphich  by 

J??ipro'Vement  might  render  a   confiderable  Ac" 

ceffion   of  Strength  and  ^ches  to   the  Crown^ 

as  appears  by  a  Scheme  annexed  to    the  foU 

lowing  Treatife.     They  ha^e  fufferd  hitherto 

under  the  want  of  a  powerful  and  affeBionate 

patron  5  ^roVidence  feems  to  haVe  given  them 

a  Natural  Claim  to  Your  Royal  Highnefs : 

And  tho  it  be  almofl  Trefumption  for  fo  ftnful 

a  Nation  to  hope  for  fo  great  a  &effingy  they 

do   humbly    join  their  prayers   to    God,  that 

.     the 


Dedication.  v 

the  <ProteEiion  tvhich  they  hope  for  from  two 
(Princes  of  Jo  much  native  Worth  and  Goodnefsy 
might  he  contimid  in  Your  ^yal  Tojierity  to 
(ill  Generations,     So  prays, 


May  it  pleafe  Your  Royal  Highnefs, 

Your  Highnefs's  mofl  Humble 
and  mod  Obedient  Servant, 


M.  Martin. 


a  5 


(   vi  ) 


THE 


PREFACE 


r  M  "^HE  Weftern  Iflands  of  Scotland, 
I  Mhich  make  the  Subject  of  the 
-iL  following  Book)  were  call'd  by 
the  antient  Geographers  jEhudd,  and  He- 
brides ;  but  they  knew  fo  httle  of  them, 
that  they  neither  agreed  in  their  Name 
nor  Kumber.  Perhaps  it  is  peculiar  to 
thofe  Illes,  that  they  have  never  been  de- 
fcrib  d  till  now,  by  any  Man  that  was  a 
Native  of  the  Country,  or  had  travel'd 
them.  They  wxre  indeed  touch'd  by  ^o- 
ethm,  Bifliop  Lejly,  ^uchanan^  and  John- 
fton,  in  their  Hiftories  of  Scotland  j  but 
none  of  thofe  Authors  were  ever  there  in 
Perfon :  fo  that  what  they  wrote  con- 
cerning 'em,  was  upon  truft  from  others. 
Buchanan,  it  is  true,  had  his  Information 
from  Donald  Monro,    who   had  been    in 

many 


The  Preface.  vii 

many  of  'em  3  and  therefore  his  Account 
is  the  beft  that  has  hitherto  appear'd,  but 
it  muft  be  own'd  that  it  is  very  imper^r 
fed:  :  that  Great  Man  defign  d  the  Hifto- 
ry,  and  not  the  Geography  of  his  Coun- 
try, and  therefore  in  him  ic  was  pardona- 
ble. Befides,  fince  his  time  there's  a  great 
Change  in  the  Humour  of  the  World,  and 
by  confecjuence  in  the  way  of  Writing. 
Natural  and  Experimental  Philofophy  has 
been  much  improved  fince  his  days  5  and 
therefore  Defcriprions  of  Countries,  with- 
out the  Natural  Hiftory  of  'em,  are  now 
juftly  reckon'd  to  be  defedljve. 

THIS  I  had  a  particular  regard  to, 
in  the  following  Defcription,  and  have 
every  where  taken  notice  of  the  Nature 
of  the  Climate  and  Soil,  of  the  Produce 
of  the  Places  by  Sea  and  Land,  and  jof 
the  remarkable  Cures  perform  d  by  the 
Natives  merely  by  the  Ufe  of  Simple^  3 
and  that  in  fuch  variety,  as  I  hope  will 
make  amends  for  what  Defeds  may  be 
found  in  my  Stile  and  Way  of  Writing  : 
for  there's  a  Wantonnefs  in  Language  as 
a  4  well 


viii  The  Preface. 

well  as  in  other  things,  to  which  my 
Countrymen  of  the  iHes  are  as  much 
ftrangers,  as  to  other  Excefles  which  are 
too  frequent  in  many  parts  of  Europe,  We 
ftudy  Things  there  more  than  Words,  tho 
thofe  that  underfl:and  our  Native  Lan- 
guage muft  own,  that  we  have  enough  of 
the  latter  to  inform  the  Judgment,  and 
work  upon  the  Affedlions  in  as  pathetick 
a  manner  as  any  other  Languages  what- 
ever.    But  I  go  on  to  my  Subjed:. 

THE  Ifles  here  defcrib'd  are  but  Httle 
known  or  confider'd,  not  only  by  Stran- 
gers, but  even  by  thofe  under  the  fame 
^Government  and  Climate, 

THE  modern  Itch  after  the  Know- 
ledg  of  foreign  Places  is  fo  prevalent, 
that  the  generality  of  Mankind  beftow 
little  Thought  or  Time  upon  the  Place  of 
their  Nativity.  It  is  become  cuftomary 
in  thofe  of  Qiiality  to  travel  young  into 
foreign  Countries,  whilft  they  are  abfolute 
Strangers  at  home  3  and  many  of  them, 
when  they  return,  are  only  loaded  with 

fuper^ 


The  Preface.  ix 

fuperficial  Knowledge  as  the  bare  Names 
of  famous  Libraries,  ftacely  Edifices,  fine 
Statues,  curious  Paintings,  late  Fafliions, 
new  Diflies,  new  Tunes,  new  Dances, 
painted  Beauties,  and  the  like. 

THE  Places  here  n  anion d  afford  no 
fuch  Entertainment  5  the  Inhabitants  in 
general  prefer  Conveniency  to  Ornament 
both  in  their  Houfes  and  Apparel,  and 
they  rather  Gtisfy  than  opprefs  Nature 
in  their  way  of  eating  and  drinking  5 
and  not  a  few  among  them  have  a  natu- 
ral Beauty,  which  excels  any  that  has 
been. drawn  by  the  finti}:  Jpelles, 

THE  Land,  and  the  Sea  that  encom- 
paffes  it,  produce  many  things  ufeful 
and  curious  in  their  kind,  feveral  of 
which  have  not  hitherto  been  mention  d 
by  the  Learned.  This  may  afford  the 
Theorifl  Subjed:  of  Contemplation,  fince 
every  Plant  of  the  Field,  every  Fiber  of 
each  Plant,  and  the  leafl  Particle  of  the 
fmalleft  Infed,  carries  with  it  the  Imprefs 
of  its  Maker  ;  and  if  rightly  confider'd, 

may 


X  The  Preface. 

may  read   us  Ledures  of  Divinity    and 
Morals. 

THE  Inhabitants  of  thefe  Iflands  do 
for  the  mofl:  part  labour  under  the  wan^ 
of  Knowledg  of  Letters,  and  other  ufe- 
ful  Arts  and  Sciences  5  notwithftanding 
which  Defed:,  they  feem  to  be  better 
vers  d  in  the  Book  of  Nature,  than  many 
that  have  greater  Opportunities  of  Im^ 
provement.  This  will  appear  plain  and 
evident  to  the  judicious  Reader,  upon  a 
View  of  the  fuccefsful  Practice  of  the 
Iflanders  in  the  Prefervation  of  their 
Health,  above  what  the  Generality  of 
Mankind  enjoys  3  and  this  is  perform'd 
merely  by  Temperance,  and  the  prudent 
ufe  of  Simples  5  which,  as  we  are  affur'd 
by  repeated  Experiments,  fail  not  to  re- 
move the  moft  ftubborn  Diftcmpers, 
where  the  bcftprepar'd  Medicines  have 
frequently  no  Succefs.  This  I  relate  not 
only  from  the  Authority  of  many  of  the 
Inhabitants,  who  are  Perfons  of  great  In- 
tegrity,  but  likewife  from  my  own  par- 
ticular Obfcrvation.    And  thus  with  Celfmy 

they 


T7;e  Preface.  xi 

they  firfl:  make  Experiments,  and  after- 
wards proceed  to  reafon  upon  the  EfFedts. 

HUMAN  Induftry  has  of  late  ad* 
vane  d  ufefiil  and  experimental  Philofophy 
very  much  5  Women  and  ilHterate  Per- 
fons  have  in  fome  meafure  contributed  to 
it,  by  the  Difcovery  of  fome  ufeful  Cures. 
The  Field  of  Nature  is  large,  and  much 
of  it  wants  ftill  to  be  cultivated  by  an 
ingenious  and  difcreet  Application  5  and 
the  Curious,  by  their  Obfervations,  might 
daily  make  further  Advances  in  the  Hifto- 
ry  of  Nature. 

SELF-PRESERVATION  is  na- 
tural to  every  living  Creature :  and  thus 
we  fee  the  feveral  Animals  of  the  Sea  and 
the  Land  fo  careful  of  themfelves,  as  to 
oblerve  nicely  Vv'hat  is  agreeable,  and  what 
is  hurtful  to. them  5  and  accordingly  they 
chufe  the  one,  and  rejed  the  other. 

THE  Husbandman    and    the   Fiflaer 
could  exped   but  little  Succefs  without 
Obfervation   in    their  feveral    Employ- 
ments ; 


xii  The  Preface^ 

ments  5  and  it  is  by  Obfervation  that  the 
Phyfician  commonly  judges  of  the  Con- 
dition of  his  Patient.  A  Man  of  Obfer- 
vation proves  often  a  Phyfician  to  him- 
felfj  for  it  was  by  this  that  our  Ancefliors 
preferv'd  their  Health  till  a  good  old 
Age,  and  that  Mankind  laid  up  that  Stock 
of  natural  Knowledg,  of  which  they  are 
now  polTefs'd. 

THE  Wife  Solomon  did  not  think  it 
beneath  him  ro  write  of  the  meaneft  Plant, 
as  well  as  of  the  tallefl  Cedar.  Hifpocra- 
tes  was  at  the  Pains  and  Charge  to  travel 
foreic^n  Countries,  with  a  defign  to  learn 
the  Virtues  of  Plants,  Roots,  O^c.  I  have 
in  my  little  Travels  endqavour'd,  among 
other  things,  in  fome  meafure  to  imitate 
fo  great  a  Pattern  ;  and  if  I  have  been  fo 
happy  as  to  oblige  the  Republick  of  Learn- 
ing with  any  thing  that  is  ufeful,  I  have 
my  Deficrn.  I  hold  it  enough  for  me  to 
furnifli  my  Obfervations,  without  ac- 
counting for  the  Reafon  and  Way  that 
thofe  Simples  produce  them  :  this  I  leave 
to  the  Learned  in   that  Faculty  5    and  if 

they 


The  Preface.  xiii 

they  would  oblige  the  World  with  fuch 
Theorems  from  thefe  and  the  like  Expe- 
riments, as  might  ferve  for  Rules  upon 
Occafions  of  this  nature,  it  would  be  of 
great  advantage  to  the  Publick. 

AS  for  the  Improvement  of  the  Ifles 
in  general,  it  depends  upon  the  Govern- 
ment of  Scotland,  to  give  Encouragement 
for  it  to  fuch  publick-fpirited  Perfons  or 
Societies  as  are  willing  to  lay  out  their 
Endeavours  that  way :  and  how  large  a 
Field  they  have  to  work  upon,  will  ap- 
pear by  taking  a  Survey  of  each,  and  of 
the  Method  of  Improvement  that  I  have 
hereunto  fubjoind. 

THERE  is  fuch  an  Account  given 
here  of  the  Second  Sight,  as  the  Nature  of 
the  thing  will  bear.  This  has  always 
been  reckon'd  fufficient  among  the  un- 
byafs'd  part  of  Mankind  5  but  for  thofe 
that  will  not  be  fo  fatisfy'd,  they  ought  to 
obhge  us  with  a  new  Scheme,  by  which 
we  may  judg  of  Matters  of  Fad. 

THERE 


xiv  The  Preface. 

THERE  are  feveral  Inftances  of 
Heathenifm  and  Pagan  Superftition  a- 
mong  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Iflands,  rela- 
ted here :  but  I  would  not  have  the  Reader 
to  think  thofe  Pradlices  are  chargeable 
upon  the  generality  of  the  prefent  Inhabi- 
tants 3  fince  only  a  few  of  the  oldeft  and 
moft  ignorant  of  the  Vulgar  are  guilty 
of  'em.  Thefe  Pradices  are  only  to  be 
found,  where  theReform'd  Religion  has  not 
prevail'd  5  for  'tis  to  the  Progrefs  of  that 
alone,  that  the  Banifhment  of  evil  Spi- 
rits, as  well  as  of  evil  Cuftoms,  is  owing, 
when  all  other  Methods  pro  v'd  inefFe(5lual. 
And  for  the  lilanders  in  general,  I  may 
truly  fay,  that  in  Religion  and  Virtue 
tiiey  excel  many  thoufands  of  others, 
who  have  greater  Advantages  of  daily 
Improvement. 


THE 


(   XV    ) 

THE 

CONTENTS 

THE  Ifle  of  Lewis,  its  different  Namesy 
Shire,  and  Diocefs,  Air-Corre£iive^  Soil^ 
Claj,  Vejfels^  Fruit fulnefs,  Corn ;  Ground  how  mi- 
nurH),  Soot  produces  the  'jaundice  ;  EffeBs  of  Ground 
when  frji  tilled,  page  i,  2 

Indujlry  of  the  Inhabitants,  way  of  digging ;  « 
ftrange  Harrow,  how  ufed  ;  Trejiarig  and  Vfque- 
haagh-haul  how  made,  and  their  EffeBs,  -> 

An  Account  of  the  Bays  and  Harbours,  Fifh; 
Gallan  Whale  dejlroys  three  Men ;  young  Whales 
how  kilPd,  they  are  nourifhing  Food.  ^^  t 

Whales  caU^d  Sea- Pork,  the  larger  more  loofening ; 
various  kind  of  Shell-fflj,  how  they  corrupt  the  Atr, 
and  the  time  ;  Coral ;  Trouts  and  Eels,  their  Bait.  6 
,       The  Cuflom  of  croffing  B?iVV2iS-Rtver,  by  a  Mak^ 
and  not  a  Female,  the  firfl  Day  of  May ;  Springs 
and  Fountains,  their  Qualities;  a  fuperftitiom  Ex- 
periment about  the  Water,  n 
Caves,  Natural  and  Artificial  Forts ^  their  Form  • 
i:hmM'Stone.  g 
A  Heathen  Temple^  its  Figure,  8cc.  0 
Fore/l,  Deer  and  Cattle,  how  fed  in  time  of  a 
Storm  ;  old  Roots  of  Trees,                                10 

A 


xvi  The  Contents. 

JBaJb  of  Wood  ;  State  of  Health,  anoiConflU 
tution  of  the  Inhabitants  ;  their  DifeafeSy  various 
Cures.  II,  12 

A  V  refer  natural  Birth,  Ingenuity  of  the  Na- 
tives, Love  of  Mujicky  their  Exerctfes,  Fatigue  : 
Inferior  Jfles,  their  Defcription ;  a  ft  one  Djke  lately 
dtfcover^'d  in  the  Sea.  i  ^,  14,  i  5 

Flannan-//?^/,  their  Frodu5l  -,  fuperjiitious  CuJ- 
tom  of  failing,  fowling,  8cc.  ufed  by  the  Inhabi- 
tants. 16, 17,  18 

Pigmies  or  Lusbird.  The  Ifle  Rona,  its  Ex- 
tent, Producl,  Inhabitants,  their  Devotions^  Way 
of  Livings  Cufloms.  Mr.  Morifon'j  Reception, 
Homage  ;  a  Prefent  given  him  and  his  Man  ;  he  is 
feen  aper  the  manner  of  the  Second  Sight.  The 
Inhabitants  how  they  all  periflid.  Colk  a  rare 
Fowl',  anew  Colony,  &:c.  19 -25 

Siant-Zy'/t? ;  Eagles,  their  Policy  ;  Blue  Stone  ; 
Eoropy-Pw;?/'.  The  IJles  above  make  two  Parijhes ; 
Churches,  their  Names  anA  Number.  26,  27 

Jntient  Natives  fay  their  Pater-Nofter  at  firjf 
view  of  A  Church :  Sacrifice  offered  to  a  Sea-God, 
and  how.  28 

Inhabitants,  their  Religion  ;  an  Experiment  of 
Holy  Water,  Fefiivals ;  Stornvay  Village,  Pro- 
prietor, f       29,  50 

Harries,  Extent,  Soil,  Air  how  qudiffd  ;  Har- 
bours, freflj  Lakes,  Springs,  their  variom  Qualities  ; 
Caves,  Forts,  Stones  on  end.  ji -^4 

Number  of  Deer,  &:c.  Mertrick,  its  Fur,  ^c. 
Two  forts  of  Eagles.  3^3^ 


The  Contents.  xvii 

A  Viper  J  Rats  how  dejlrofd^  a  jlo'ne  Circle  in 
the  Sea^  'UAtiom  Shells,  OsCx^ix  how  ufed,  Mo- 
luce  A  Beans,  Amulets,  Amber greefe.  37?  ^8 

Hearing  lofi  how  reflGr''d  ;  Blindnefs  in  Sheep 
how  reftor''d ;  a  Foal  with  cloven  Feet ;  Carrot-Seed 
inflead  of  Hops,  39,  40 

A  jingular  Cure  for  a  Cold-,  a  Worm  how  taken 
out  of  one's  Cheek ;  Allium,  how  juccefsjul  againfl 
the  Stone  ;  JLunar  Stone,  41 

A  Man  loji  his  Sight  at  ths  Moon'^s  Change  ;  great 
Frodu6i  of  Barley  ;  Sea-ware  enriches  the  Ground ; 
a  Subjlance  like  Slake  grows  in  the  ground.   42,  4^ 

Several  Irregularities  m  the  Tides  •  two  Ravens  ; 
Stones  ere5fed,  44 —47 

Pabbay-///?,  Tokens  of  Wood  gain'd  by  the  Sea  ; 
a  Fat- Pudding  calms  the  Sea,  and  attncls  the 
Whales  ;  Sheep  with  big  Horns,  48 

Two  Chappels  ;  a  Tradition  there  proves  falfe  ;  a 
fecret  Sign  among  the  Inhabitants  of  Taranfay  ; 
big  Seals  in  Gasker-7/Z?  ;  a  P^ir  of  Seals,  and 
Hammer  dug  out  of  a  Grave  in  the  Sands  ;  a  Vein 
of  Adamant  in  Quedam-//^(?,  no  Mice  can  live  in 
it.  49,  50 

Hermetra-//7i^  hath  the  Foundation  of  a  Maga-  ' 
zine,  ufed  when   the  Fijhery  %vas  there  ;    the  rocky 
Channel  between  the  Iflu  of  Vift  and  Harries  navi- 
gable ;  Fejli'vals  ■   Cavalcade.  5  ^  ?  5  2 

The  Ifle  North- Vift,  its  Figure,  Soil,  great 
Produce,  Corn,  two  Ploughs,  Bajs,  four  hundred 
Sail  loaded  with  Hrririg  in  ''em  \  a  Magazine- Houj'e 
for  the  great  Fijhery,  Shell-fijh.  53'  S^?  5  5 

b  Mickrel 


xviii  The  Contents. 

Mackrsl  run  afhore  with  Spring-Tides,  a»d  hovf 
they  are  freferv'd ;  a  ft  range  way  of  thick  ning 
Cloth ;  a  vaft  number  of  frejh  Lakes,  they  abound 
mth  Eels  and  Trouts,  56,  57 

Cod,  Lir'g^  Mackrel^  &:c.  Fijb  caught  in  Lakes ; 
a  marled  Salmon  defcrib'^d ;  Shell-Ftjh  ;  antient 
Forts,  Cairns  of  Stone.  58 

Falfe  Centinels,  fever al  Stones  on  end  ;  a  Stone 
on  end,  to  which  MalefaBors  were  tfd  at  Dtvifie 
Service ;  the  IVater-Crofs.  59 

Several  forts  of  Fewel ;  Cheefe  falted  with  Jfhes 
of  Bar  ley-fir  aw  ;  an  earthen  Pitcher  full  of  Bones ; 
the  Policy  of  Ravens ^  &c.  Seals  how  taken  with 
Nets  ;  the  yearly  Attack  on  Seals  in  CQ]x{m\\'Rock ; 
Seals,  their  Naturality,  &c.  61,62,63 

Seals  how  eat^  how  preferv'^d,  how  ufed  againfi 
Diarrhea  and  Dylenteria ;  Seals  ufed  againfi  the 
Chin-cough,  tts  way  of  leaping,  the  Skin  how  ufed, 
H^ms  made  of  Seals  ;  a  Difpute  whether  a  Seal  be 
Fipj  or  Fleflj.  ^4>  ^  5 

Helsker-R(?f^i.  66 

The  Jjle  Borera  ;  a  Mare  brings  forth  a  Foal  in 
her  fecond  T^ar  ;  fine  Dtdfe^  Monks  Field,  Grave- 
fiones\  Tradition  of  Monks  Poflure  in  time  of 
Prayer.  6^ 

■  Lingay-//?^  its  Produce,  it  has  been  efleenPd  fa- 
cred ;  Beef  falted  in  the  Cows  Hide  •  -Cows  fatsed 
bj  Sea-ware.  69 

Oeerfeed  on  Sea-ware  ;  Eagle  how  it  fifbes  ;  Fowl 
of  Sea  and  Land ;  black  Eagle  defiroys  Lamb,  Deer, 
aK'd  Fawn  J  a  Vow  at  the  eating  of  a.  Swan  \  the 
Colk  defcrib^d ',  the  Gowlin  prognoflicates  fair  fVea- 
thtr.  70. 71 

The 


The  Concents.  xlx 

The  Gotv/m^s  Notes  pUfd  on  the  Pipe  \  the 
Rain-Gee fe  for et ill  Rain  ;  the  Bi/bop-Fowl  cures 
the  Sciatic  A  ;  the  Bird  Goylir  foretells  a  Storm.  -72 
The  Bird  Screachanattin^  its  JfeBion  to  its 
Mate.  0(?fervation  of  Eggs.  Wild-Geefe.  7  j 
Barren  Fowl.  Jir,  iff  Properties.  Snow,  its 
time.  Obfer  vat  ions  of  Froft  and  Ram.  Obfer  na- 
tion of  the  'North'Eafl  Winds.     Difeafes,  Cares. 

r         74,75 
J  Native  calPd  the  Rain- Almanack.     A  Houje 

in  which  a  Cock  doth  not  crow  from  September  till 

March.     Longevity  of  the  Natives^  their  Charity, 

An  Inn  a  great  Rarity.     Cuflom  of  asking  Grain^ 

Cows,  &c.  gratis.  7^)77>7S 

The  Anntverfary  Cavalcade.  A  Cuflom  toltra- 
ted  the  night  before  the  Cavalcade.  How  they  run 
for  a  Prize  ;  Bridles,  Whips  how  made.  Mutual 
Prefents.     Proprietor,  Religion.  78,79,80 

Benbecula-//Z?,  a  Harbour,  Soil.  A  Vault 
having  many  fmall  Bones  in  it,  Opinion  concerning 
them;  Proprietor.  A  Laj-Capuchin,  his  Habit, 
Sec.  82,85 

TheJpSouth'Yii}:,  Soil,  Corn,  frejh  Lakes^  old 
Forts ;  Amber greefe  found  here.  Froft  kills  Fifb. 
Inhabitants^  Diet,  Habit.  A  Native  1^0  Tears 
old ;  flone  Kjiirns  5    Superfiition  of  the   Natives, 

84,  8^,  06 

'EvKcd.-JJley  Anchorage,  Fifhings,  the  Ground  cafls 
up  Heath.  A  Caution  to  Travellers  by  Land,  Vi^ 
pers  of  late  difcover'*d.  87 

Inhabitants,  their  Language,  Drefs,  Hofpitality, 

their  Alliances  mth  Protejtants  ;  Churches,  Bowing- 

b  2  flone'. 


XX  The  Contents. 

ftons ;  a  Buckle  of  Gold ;  Proprietor,  Cavalcade^ 
St.  Michael'/  Cake,  Manufcri^ts  m  the  Irifh 
CharaBer  and  Language,  88, 89 

The  I/le  of  Barray,  its  Lengthy  Situation^  Pro- 
duce, Corn.  ibid. 

Plenty  of  Fi/h,  fmalt  Sh/ps  from  Orkney  for 
Tifh  ;  a  Harbour ;  freckled  Salmon,  and  how  takerfy 
&^c.  90 

Forts,  Orchard,  Tobacco  growing  there.  Kifmal 
the  HeretoPs  Seat,  a  Tower,  Magazine,  ibid- 

The  Officers,  Cockman,  Conjiable.  The  Proper^ 
ties  of  fever  alWells.  ■  Embrios  of  Cockles ;  Chappel, 
St.  BarrV  Image,  the  Inhabitants  pay  religious  Wor- 
Jbip  to  it ;  Tradition  concerning  St.  Barr.      91,92 

The  more  Southern  Jfles  defcriPd^  their  Produce 
of  Fifi,  Corn,  &c.  A  Stone  rubbed  to  their  Breaftj 
andrvhy.  9^>94 

Inhabitants  their  Hofpitdlityy  a  fingular  way  of 
lodging  Strangers.  95 

Jn  unknown  Root.  The  Ifie lAnmul.  Fowl; 
Climber  Gingick,  his  Hazard,  Reward,  8cc.         96 

Women  and  Men  apply  to  Mackneil  for  a  Match, 
and  he  recommends  the  Match.  St.  ChriftopherV 
Altar^  the  Natives  perform  their  Devotion  at  it. 
A  Tenant"* s  Misfortune  fupply'^d.  97 

The  Proprietor'' s  Care  of  his  Tenants  ;  Obferva- 
titn  of  Sheep  ;  Anchorage,  The  Steward,  his  Per- 
quifttes,  98 

Inferior  Officers,  their  Perquifites,  Religion ; 
St.  Barr,  his  anniverfary  Cavalcade ;  a  Priefl's  Re- 
ception, and  a  Difpute  with  him  concerning  St.  Barr. 
Proprietor,  his  Antiquity,  his  Vaffalage,  Tribute, 
8cc.  99, 100 

Thi 


The  Contents.  xxi 

The  antient  and  modern  Cuftomsof  the  hhabi- 
tants of  the  IVejlern  ijles  of  Scotland.     loi — 1 23 

Courts  of  Ju4icatorjj  ojfe^five  and  defenfive 
LeagueSy  the  Formality  of  giving  a  Farm  to  a. 
Tenant,  124,  125 

Church-Difcipline.  A  Form  of  Prajer  ufed  bj 
the  1 /landers  at  Sea^  1 26 1  30 

The  Ifle  of  Skie,  its  Etpnology^  Situation^  Shire^ 
Diocefs^  South-Eaft  Moon  caufeth  high  Tide.       1^1 

Mold,  Earths  variom,  their '  Effe^s  ;  Marca- 
fttes,  Jggat,  Chrjfialj  Marble,  Ltmefione,  Cor- 
nua  Ammonis.  152,  i^j 

Velumnities,  Stone  refembling  Goats  Horns, 
l^apis  Herticus,  its  Qualities.  134 

Corkir,  Crotil,  Talk,  i^^ 

Harbours,  Mountains.  i^^—i^g 

The  Mountain  Quillin  the  Cdufe  of  Rain',  Soil 
very  good,  from  fever al  Inflances.  1  ?  9 

Digging  yields  a  better  Increafe  than  ploughing ; 
Springs  and  Fountains,  their  Qualities.  Some  are 
under  a  Foiv  of  coming  to  Lochfiant  Well ;  an  Of- 
fering is  left  on  the  Stones  above  the  Well.  1 40 

The  Wood  near  the  Well  efleemed  f acred ;  a  Trout 
carefully  preferv'^d.  Thirty  Rivers  afford  Salmon; 
Pearl,  141 

Prognoflick  of  Rain ;  Bait  and  Seafonfor  angling 
Trout ;  a  frejb  Lake,  .iffords  Pearl ;  this  Jfle  an- 
tiently  covn'^d  witlf  Wood,  fame  Coppices.  142 

Herring  in  feveral  Bays,  all  kind  of  Fijh  follow 
them  ;  all  Fijh  have  a  Leader,  J  firange  Obferva- 
tion  of  Herring ;  Herring  prefer v^d  without  Salt. 
All  Fifh  abound  on  this  Coafi  ;  the  Seafon  for  fifh- 
ing;  feveral  forts  of  Bait.  14^,  144 

b  I  The 


xxii  The  Contents. 

The  Bays^  &c.  aford  various  Shell-ffh  ',  great 
plenty  of  Oyflers.  Nurfes  Milk  hotv  to  increafe. 
'Jaundice  occafiorPd  by  eating  the  Patella  ;  Obferva- 
tions  of  the  Patella.  145,  146 

Of  the  Balamos,  Periwinkle^  Cockles,  &c.  Ob- 
fervation  of  Fijb.  147 

Sea  Plants,  their  Qualities  ;  Sleef  to  procure ; 
Megrim  how  cured.     SLMe  its  Qualities.  148 

Dulfe,   its  Properties  \    of  the  Alga  Marina. 

149 

White  and  red  Coral,  their  Fffetis  ;  a  Cave  pe- 
trifies Water.  150 

Several  Caves,.  Cairns^  Stones  fet  on  end  ;  the 
Giant  Fin-Mac-Cowl.  1^1,152 

Danifh  Forts  ferve  as  Beacons,  Names  of  FortSy 
Houfes,  Druids  Houfes^  Coal  lately  founds  Cattle, 

A  Cow  how  impos'^d  upon  by  the  Skin  of  her  dead 
Calf,  and  how  pacify d.  Cows  how  deter"* d  from 
any  place.  Cows  dijtinguifh  the  Tides  without  fight: 
of  the  Sea.  Cows  how  they  pre/age  their  Mafler'^s 
Death.  A  Native  being  kilfd,  his  Cows  gave 
Blood  injiead  of  Milk  about  that  very  time.   155, 

156 

A  monflrous  Calf;  a  Cow  brought  forth  five 
Calves  all  at  once.  A  Calf  with  double  Feet ; 
Calves  havi?ig  the  Ear  flit.  Land  and  fVater- 
Fowly  the  difference  betwixt  good  and  bad  Cormo- 
rants, their  Broth  refiores  Milk  in  Nurfes,  they  fore- . 
tell  tht^  Winds.  Obfervation  of  the  Oil  of  Land 
and  Sea-Fawl,  and  of  the  St.  Kilda  Fowl.  Sea-Pje 
prefages  fair  Weather.  157,158 

Amp  hi-' 


The  Contents.  xxiii 

AmphihU  ;  Ohfervation  of  Otters  ;  'variot^  Ser- 
pents, how  they  kill ;  Cures  for  the  biting  of  Ser- 
fents.  159,160 

Tm  fort  of  Wexfels,  and,  their  Efeas.  The 
PeninfuU  Oronfay  excels  in  F^flurage.     161,162 

The  //Z?  Ralay  ;  a  white  :^ubjlance  from  fetriffd 
Water,  proves  good  Ltme.  A  St  one- Quarry.  A 
Lawobferv'd  tn  jijhtK'g.  *^j 

Forts,  Proprietor.  Pyramids  ere6led  for  every 
deceas''d  Lad/.  164 

Heftick  Stone  reddiJJj.     Shoals  of  Herrif?g.    1 6  5 

The  I/it;  ^hdda.  frequented  by  a  monjlrom  Whale, 
A  fuperjiitiotts  Cufiom  for  procuring  a  fair  Wind. 

166 

A  Stone  much  regarded  by  the  Natives.  The 
Monk  Ogorgon.  The  four  ufed  by  Birds  and  Men 
rt?/yW  Table- Fort.  167,  168 

Scurvy-grafs^  its  Size,  Quality.  169 

A  fmgular  kind  of  Duife.  i  he  South  of  Skie 
earlier  in  Grafs,  Cattle,  UC»  than  the  North  p..rt. 

Air,  QnAXm-MountMn  calPd  an  Almanack,  Se- 
veral Obfervations  of  Winds,  171,  172 

A  Prefage  of  fair  Weather,  Tides,  Moon  its 
Influence.  17^,174 

The  Difeafes  known  ani  not  known  in  the  Jfle 
Skie.     The   Cures  ufed  by  the  Inhabitants.     175, 

The  Alga  Marina  ufeful  in  planting.     Several 

Cures  for  Difeafes.  178,179 

.Land-Plants,  their  Qualities.       180, 18  i,  182 

b  4  Cure 


xxiv  The  Contents. 

Cf4re  for  Cough,  or  Hoarfenefs  ;  HeBick-fione. 
Water-gruel  hew  us^d.  18  J 

ui  Smithes  Cure  for  the  Faifitnefs  of  the  Spirits, 

184 

Vuheraries  ;  Purges  ;  a  Tumor  to  ripen  ;  Syroms 
to  take  away  ;  BUndnefs  how  cured.  Jfhes  of  Sea- 
ware  preferve  Cheefe.  485,  t  86 

Swelfd  Feet  \  Glyfters  how  made.  A  Difficulty 
in  eafing  Nature  at  Sea^  how  remoiPd,        187,  188 

Sweat  to  procure  ;  the  variom  Effe6is  of  Ffjhes 
on  jet'eral  ConjtitutiGits.  189,  190 

A  Nat  I've  hath  a  Faculty  of  ereciing  his  Ears. 
A  flrange  Worm  in  fome  People.  iV2 

Teaft  how  preferv'^d  many  Tears,  ibid. 

Hemlock  its  Effecfs  ;  many  Worms  how  deftrofd. 

19? 

The  Inhabitants  Complexion,    Education,  great 

Age,  Beds ;  a  larger  Dofe  of  Phyfick  reo[uiid  here 
than  in  the  South.  194,  19^,  t^^ 

They  are  eafily  cured  ;  an  Empirick  without  Let- 
ters or  Education/,  his  Su:cefs.  197,  198 

The  Natives  fag.iciom^  mechanical,  Lovers  of 
Mnfick.  199 

Gtnim  for  Poetry ;  Difadvantage  and  Ad'van- 
tage  in  the  warjt  of  Ccnverfe.  200, 

Diet,  Men  eat  more  than  Women ;  Oon,  a  Difl? 
made  oj  Milk  or  IVhey.  201,  202,  205 

Graddan,  a  way  of  dr effing  Corn  ;  two  yearly 
Fairs ;  Cattle  hoiv  fwimnPd  over  the  Ferries.   204 

208 

Tht  J  (landers  Jffccfion  to  their  Chief.  209 

Their  way  <f  fg^^ti^'g-  210 

Divifion 


The  Contents.'  xxv 

Divifion  of  Skie  7/Z?,  Proprietors,  Religion,  2 1 1 

Boot-///*^,  Mold,  Corn,  Rofa-Tcii?;?,  Churches-^ 
an  Antient  N^ttive^  he  ne-ver  can  eafe  Nature  at  Sea ; 
Language,  Indujlry  of  the  Natives,  Ftjhing,  Pro- 
prietors. 214,215,216 

Arran-//?^,  its  Etymology,  Mountains,  Bays^ 
Earths,  Stones,  Rivers,  Air.  217,218 

Caves,  a  Giant'^s  Hoafe,  Stones  on  end,  Bones 
found  under  them ,  two  fione  Circles.  219,220 

A  SanBuary,  Harbour,  Eoreft,  Cattle^  Cajlle  of 
Brodwick.  221,  222 

,    Proprietor^  Deputy,  Mack-Lewis.  22^ 

Coroner y  his  Office,  &€.  Inhabitants,  their  Com^ 
flexion,  Habit,  Language,  Churches,  Religion  ; 
a  Stone  valued  by  the  Inhabitants,  8cc.    224,  225, 

226 

l^Qiky-IJle,  a  Fort,  Produce,  Chappels.         227 

Gigay-i/?,  its  Churchy  the  Bowing-ftone,  Crofs^ 
Bleeding  how  flenched ;  Religion,  no  burying  on 
Friday.  227 230 

Jurah-7/7^,  its  Etymology,  Paps  of  Jurah,  She- 
riffdom^ Proprietor,  i'i^\,i-^^ 

Wholefommfs  of  the  Ifle,  Fountains,  their  Pro- 
perties ;  Longevity  of  the  Natives,  Cave,  Har- 
bours. 234,  235 

DireUion  for  Sailors-,  Serpents',  Cory-Vrekan 
Gulf.  236,237 

A  Veffel  efcApes  narrowly.  Rats  flee  out  of  the 
/A  238 

Religion,  they  do  not  bury  on  Friday  ;  Com- 
plexion, Language^ a  Lead-Mine.  239 

The 


xxvi  The  Contents.    ~ 

The  Ifle  of  Ila,  Finlagan  IJle,  the  Courts  an- 

tiently^  and  Seat  of  Judicature.  240 

Coronation-fioney  &-c.      Forts^  Caves,  241,  242 

Rivers  ;  the  Judg  how  buried,  24  J 

Churches^  Air^    Proprietor  ;    a   mw-found  IJle^ 

calPd  Green  Ifle.  ,  244,  245 

The  Ifle  Collonfay,  Churchy  Monaftery^  Tombs, 

Proprietor^  Crojfes  ;  a  Tour  made  round  the  Church ; 

Moid,  Cajile,  Complexion,  Diet,  Language,    246, 

247, 248 
Religion^  Women  only  obferve  the  Nativity  of 
the  B/eJfed  Virgin  ;  flone  Chefls,  249 

Mull-7/?(?,  Air,  Carmel-Root  Aromatick,  it  pre- 
vents  Drunkennefs  ;  Mountains.  250,  251 

Bays,  Forts,  Tonbir-Moiy  Harbour,  the  Spa- 
ll i  £h  Ship  blown  up  here,  2  5  2 ,  2  5  j 
Indian  Bbdns  how  ufed;  a  Stone  receives  no 
Heat.  254 
Jona-7//(?,  Tradition  concerning  Columbus  ;  va- 
rious  Names  of  the  Ifle,  its  Length,  it  was  a  Se- 
winary  of  Learning  ;  Revenues.  The  Bijhop  of 
the  J/les  his  Cathedral,  he  is  /liled  Epifcopus  Sodo- 
renfis  Ficar  of  Jona  was  Par  I  on  of  Soroby, 
and  Dean  of  the  J/les.     St,  M.2iVf/Church  defcrib^d, 

255,256,257 
Bifhops^  Abbots,  and  others  of  diftinciion,    bu- 
rfd  within  the  Church  \  Cloyfl'er^  Library,  a  Bu- 
rying-place  for  Murderers  and  Unhaptiz^d  Perfons, 
Qo\\imhxiiS*sTomb.  258 

St.  MartinV  Crofs ;  Monks-Dun,  its  ufe.  The 
Black  Stones  on  which  Oaths  were  Jworn  ;  they  are 
calPd  the  Great  Seat,  259 

Taylors 


The  Contents.  xxvii 

Taylors  Houfe.  St.  OuranV  Church_^veral  Per- 
fons  of  Difiincimt  barf  din  it ;  tlyrir  Statues.  260 

The  Burul-piace  of  the  iCings  of  Scotland, 
Ireland,  and  Norway  ;  as  aljo  of  the  antient  Fa- 
milies  in  the  Ijles  ;  of  an  Englifh  l^tfljof  :  fever al 
Infcriptions.  Ronad'i  Churchy  wherein  the  Prio- 
reffes  are  bury'' d.  261,262 

Infcnftions^  Nunnery^  two  Pavements.,  Mack- 
lean'/  Crofs ;  Columbus  carrfd  eighteen  Clergy- 
men to]Qn2.',  variegated  StoneSy  howujed.  A  Tra- 
dition of  the  family  of  Porters.  26^ 

Columbus,  his  Life  in  divers  hands  ;  he  exclu- 
ded Women  from  the  JJle.  264 

Cattle  excluded^  only  to  be  free  from  Women, 
Beda  hi^  Account  of  Columbus.  26^,  266 

The  JJle  of  Tire-iy  9  Experiments  to  revive 
Ale  ;  Teajl  how  preferv  d.  267,  268 

Cows- Milk  produced  by  Sea-ware  ;  many  Whales , 
eat  by  the  Natives.  The  Jfle  fubje^  to  the  Ague  ; 
fome  of  the  Inhabitants  bald;  a  Cave.  269 

Torts^  Circles  of  Stone.,  Inhabitants^  their  Re- 
ligion. 270 

The  IJle  of  Coll,  it  produces  more  Boys  than 
Girls,  and  Tire-iy  more  Girls  than  Boys  ;  the  for- 
mer feed  on  Oat-Bread,  the  latter  on  Barley,  A 
Native  aged  89  ;  dangerous  Rocks.  271 

The  IJle  Rum,  mountainom  and  heathy  ;  its 
Lengthy  Rivers,  bowl,  Caves,  Colour  of  the  Rocksy 
Deer,  a  fuperflttious  Obfervation,  27^ 

Chappel,  Proprietor,  Language,  Habit,  274 

The  Jfle  Muck,  Fruitfulnefs,  Cattle,  Fowl,  Lan- 
guage, Hawks.  ibid.' 

The 


xxviii  The  Contents. 

The  Ifle  Cannay,  fruitful  in  Corn  and  Grafs^ 
f  lent  J  of  Fi/b  ;  a  Loadflone  in  the  North  end.  The 
Jp  calPd  Tarfiii  at  Sea.  Columbus'/  Church, 
Religion.,  Hubit,  Proprietor,  Anchorage.  275 

The  Ijfle  of  Egg,  rocky  and  mount ainoU'S ;  a  na-> 
tural  Fort,  a  Harhur,  a  large  Cave^  a  Well  re^u- 
ted  medicinal,  the  Effe5f  it  hath  on  a  Stranger  that 
lies  at  it  in  the  night-time.  The  Natives  make  a 
Round  about  a  Heap  of  Stone,  A  Heap  of  Stone 
confecrated  to  the  Virgin  Mary.  A  Well  confecra- 
(ed  by  a  Fopifh  Priefl^  much  efleem'd  by  the  Inhabit 
tants.^  The  Ceremony  at  the  Confecration.  276,277 

St,  Catherine'/  Anniverfary ;  the  Inhabitants 
well  proportion'*d,  Language,  Habit,  Religion, 
St.  Donnan'i  Church  and  Anniverfary.  A  Sepul- 
chral Vrn,  a  Paffage  under  ground.  Proteflants 
denfd  accefs  to  the  Burials  in  this  Jfle.         278,  279 

St.  Kilda  or  Hirta,  Etymology  of  the  NAvne, 
its  DiflatKe,  in  a  Dutch  Map  it  is  cafPd  Kiider  ; 
its  Length,  Fountains,  Cattle  low  of  Stature,  Sheep 
have  big  Horns.  2  So 

The  Fort  cf  the  VoKcii.  281 

A  barren  Tribe  of  Solan  Geefe  ;  a  Pudding  made 
of  their  Fat,  and  its  Effecl.  282 

Solan  Goo fe- Egg  pectoral,  their  Nefts  how  made; 
A  red  Coat,  Sun-dial,  Arrow,  and  Molucca- iif4>^j 
found  in  one  of  their  Nefts.  The  Fowl  c all' d  Fulmar, 
its  Size,  it  prognofticates  the  Wefl  Wtnd^  it  feeds 
on  live  Whale,  eats  Sorrel,  it  fpouts  out  pure  Oil  at 
its' Bill,  Properties  of  this  Oil,  Number  of  the 
Inhabitants,  Language,  Habit.,  they  are  all  not 
fiib]e[i  to  many   Difeafes  ;    the  Men.  very  ftrong. 

Strangers 


The  Contents.  xxix 

Strangers  infeci  the  Natives  with  a  Cough.  28  j, 

284 

Diet  of  the  Natives,  it  caufes  a  Lefrofy,  They 
have  A  Genius  for  Foefy  ;  thej  efcape  narrowly  by 
climbing  ;  the  ingeniiity  of  one  among  them.      285 

A  fignifcative  Sign^  underjiood  at  a  difiance  by 
all  the  Women,  The  Women  labour  the  Ground  one 
Tear,  286,  287 

They  fivear  decifive  Oaths  by  the  Crucifix^  and  it 
is  of  Brafs.  The  Jmfoflor  his  Deceit^  how  he  was 
taken  out  of  the  Jfle,  his  Qonfeffion  and  Repentance, 
&€.  288 

St.  Kilda-M4/2'i  Notion  of  the  City  of  Glafgow, 
and  of  every  ObjeB  he  faw  in  it.  Proprietor,  6tew^ 
ard,  VroduB,  289,  290 

Steward"^ s  Deputy,  Omer  a-nd  Cubit,  no  Silver  or 
Gold  ujed  here,  they  fight  for  Property,  they  live 
contentedly,  nice  in  Property.  291 

Stout  Rowers,  no  Compafs,  Pot- Penny,  Fire- 
Penny,  the  Fire-Penny  lofl  by  the  Difcovery  of 
Chryftal.  292 

They  excel  in  climbing.  Two  Ropes  belonging  to 
the  Commonwealth.  Great  Pur  chafe  of  Fowl; 
Eggs,  two  thoufand  caught  in  a  dafs  time ;  Gins 
wherein  Fowl  are  caught.  One  of  the  Natives 
efc apes  narrowly.  They  penfh  in  climbing.  Lamen- 
tation-Songs, 2^g^,  294 

Rock' Fowl  how  a  Prefent ;  Horfes,  Fewel,  Laval- 
cade,  fine  Hawks.  One  of  the  lnhabtta?Hs  travels 
to  Glafgow,  his  fi range  Idea  of  every  OhjeB  there. 

295 

A  Child  taken  away  by  an  Eagle,  and  preferv'^d.  299 

An 


XXX  The  Contents. 

Jft  Account  of  the  Second  Sight,  or  Faculty  of 
forefeeing  things  to  come^  by  way  of  Vifion ;  feve- 
ral  In  fiances  of  it  narrated.  joo 

A  Scheme  of  Trade ^  particularly  of  Fijhing,  ^^6 

The  Language  of  the  Inhabitants^  and  their  Re- 
motenefs,  no  Ohflacle  to  this  Deftgn,  ibid. 

They  are  capable  of  acquiring  all  Arts  ;  ma?jy  go 
abroad  for  want  of  Employment.  ibid. 

The  Ground  capable  to  maintain  double  the  Num- 
ber of  the  Inhabitants  ;  their  Cattle  die  in  the  Spring 
by  ftarving.  The  Soil  richer  than  in  Jeveral  other 
farts.  ibid. 

The  want  of  Skill  in  Agriculture  a  great  lofs. 
Many  Families  hoi^  eaftly  maintained.  The  IJles  are 
proper  for  a  folitary  Life,  and  living  at  a  very  eafy 
rate,  538 

The  Ifles  are  healthful.  A  Tradition  of  Gold  and 
Silver  Mines.     A  Lead-Mine   in   the  Ifle  of"  Ila. 

The  Situation  of  the  Jfles  advantageous  for  Trade. 
Two  Attempts  made  by  Kjng  Charles  I.  and  Kjng 
Charles  \\.  to  advance  the  Fishery  of  the  Wejlern 
Jfles.  '  3  40 

The  Dutch  Fifhery  calPd  a  Golden  Mine.  The 
Herrings  come  to  the  Coaft  of  the  Jfles  in  May  and 
June  ;  they  continue  in  fome  parts  till  January  : 
all  other^ Fijh  follow  the  FJerring.  549 

Orkney -T/Z?/,  their  Situation,  Origin^  Longi- 
tude^ Air.  ,  350 

More  Rain  than  Snow  in  Winter  ;  Sea- Air  dif- 
folves  Snow  \  the  Tides  alter  their  Courfe  ;  Number 
of  the  Jfles.  The  main  Land,  Kirkwal  Town,  the 
J\jng  and  BiJJjop^s  Palace.  551 

St. 


The  Contents.  xxxi 

St.  Magnus  V  Church  ;  the  Town  erected  by  the 
Danes.  352 

Scripture-Stories  fainted  ;  a  lofty  Infcription ; 
Harbours.  The  leffer  JJles  defcnb^d.  The  dange- 
rom  Whirlpools  in  time  of  a  Calm,  j  54 

•Orkney-7/?i?/  fruitful,  fever  al  Mines',  no  Trees 
here.  A  Scuth-Eajl  Moon  caufeth  high  Tide.  Fin- 
land .Men  and  their  Boat.  A  medicinal  Snail, 
Plenty  of  Shell-fjb.  No  venomous  Creature  in  thefe 
Ifles.  556 

Herring-ffhing  neglected ;  Whales^  Amphibia^ 
variom  VroduBs ;  ¥owl^  Cleck-Geefe.  ^5-7 

Pifl:s  the  antient  Inhabitants',  they  are  difpof- 
fefs'*d  by  K^.  Kenneth  the  Second.  Magnus  KJng 
of  Norway,  by  means  of  Donald  Bane,  poffeffes 
the  Ifles.  358 

Orkney  a  Title  of  Honour ^  the  Queen  Proprie- 
tor. 359 

Orkney  a  Stewartry,  Udal  Right^  different  Mea- 
fureSy  antient  State  of  the  Church.       360 363 

Antient  Monuments  andCuriojities.  364 ^66 

Superfiition  of  the  Inhabitants,  their  Longevity, 

567,  j68 


A 

DESCRIPTION 

O  F    T  H  E 

laeftetrn^fliatttjs 

O  F 

SCOTLAND. 


THE  Ifland  of  Lervis  is  fo  call'd  from 
Leog,  which  in  the  Irifh  Language 
fignifies  Heater,  lying  on  the  Surface 
of  the  Ground  ;  which  is  very  pro- 
per to  this  Ifland,  becaufe  of  the  great  num- 
ber of  frefh-water  Lakes  that  abound  in  k. 
The  Ifle  of  Lewis  is  by  all  Strangers  and  fea- 
faring  Men  accounted  the  outmoft  Tra£t  of 
Iflands  lying  to  the  Northweft  of  Scotland, 
It  is  divided  by  feveral  narrow  Channels,  and 
diftinguifh'd  by  feveral  Proprietors  as  well  as 
by  feveral  Names :  by  the  Iflanders  it  is  com- 
monly call'd,  The  Long  Ipnd  ;  being  from 
South  to  North  loo  Miles  in  length,  and 
from  Eaft  to  Weft  from  j  to  14  in  breadth. 
It  lies  in  the  Shire  of  Rofs^  and  made  part  of 
the  Diocefs  of  the  Ifles. 

A  THE 


2        ^Description  of  tie 

THE  Ifle  of  L^n'/V,  properly  and  fl:ri8:ly  fo 
caird,  is  ^6  Miles  in  length;  viz.  from  the 
North-point  o(  Bo)vlmg4jead  to  the  South-point 
of  Hufjmefs  in  Harries :  and  in  fome  places  it 
is  I  o,  and  in  others  1 2  Miles  in  breadth.  The 
Air  is  temperately  cold  and  moift,  and  for  a 
Corrective  the  Natives  ufe  a  Dofe  of  Trefiarig 
or  Vfquebaugh.  This  Ifland  is  for  the  moft  part 
healthy,  efpecially  in  the  middle  from  South 
to  North.  It  is  arable  on  the  Weft  fide,  for 
about  fixteen  Miles  on  the  Coaft  ;  it  is  like- 
wife  plain  and  arable  in  feveral  places  on  the 
Eaft.  The  Soil  is  generally  fandy,  excepting 
the  Heaths,  which  in  fome  places  are  black, 
and  in  others  a  fine  red  Clay ;  as  appears  by 
the  many  VelTels  made  of  it  by  their  Women ; 
fome  for  boiling  Meat,  and  others  for  pre- 
ferving  their  Ale,  for  which  they  are  much 
better  than  Barrels  of  Wood. 

THIS  Ifland  was  reputed  very  fruitful  in 
Corn,  until  the  late  Years  of  Scarcity  and  bad 
Seafons.  The  Corn  fown  here  is  Barley,  Oats 
and  Rye ;  and  they  have  alfo  Flax  and  Hemp. 
The  beft  Increafe  is  commonly  from  the 
Ground  manured  with  Sea-ware:  They  fatten 
it  alfo  with  Soot;  but  it  is  obferv'd  that  the 
Bread  made  of  Corn  growing  in  the  Ground 
fofatten'd,  occafions  the  Jaundice  to  thofe  that 
eat  it.  They  obferve  likewife  that  Corn  pro- 
duced in  Ground  which  was  never  tilled  be- 
fore. 


Wejiern  I/lands  of  Scotland.  J 

fore,  occafions  feveral  Diforders  in  thofe  who 
eat  the  Bread,  or  drink  the  Ale  made  of  that 
Corn  ;  fuch  as  the  Head-ach  and  Vomiting, 

THE  Natives  are  very  induftrious,  and  un- 
dergo a  great  Fatigue  by  digging  the  Ground 
with  Spades,  and  in  moft  places  they  turn  the 
Ground  fo  digged  upfide  down,  and  cover  it 
with  Sea-ware ;  and  in  this  manner  there  are 
about  500  People  employed  daily  for  fome 
months.  This  way  of  labouring  is  by  them 
cd.\VdTmiy ',  and  certainly  produces  a  greater 
Increafe*than  digging  or  plowing  otherwife. 
They  have  little  Harrows  with  wooden  Teeth 
in  the  firftand  fecond  Rows,  which  break  the 
Ground  ;  and  in  the  third  Row  they  have 
rough  Heath,  which  fmooths  it.  This  light 
Harrow  is  drawn  by  a  Man  having  a  ftrong 
Rope  of  Horfe-hair  acrofs  his  Breaft. 

THEIR  plenty  of  Corn  was  fuch,  as  dif- 
pos'd  the  Natives  to  brew  feveral  forts  of  Li- 
quors, SLS  common  Vfquebau^h,  another  call'd 
Treftarig^  id  eft,  Jqua-vit£^  three  times  diihll'd, 
which  is  ftrong  and  hot ;  a  third  fort  is  tour 
times  diftilPd,  and  this  by  the  Natives  is  calPd 
Vfquel>augh-haul,  idefiyVfquei/augh^which  at  firft 
tafte  affecls  all  the  Members  of  the  Body :  two 
fpoonfuls  of  this  laft  Liquor  is  a  fufficieat  Dole ; 
and  if  any  Man  exceed  this,  it  would  prefently 
flop  his  Breath,  and  endanger  his  Life.  The 
Trejlarrg  and  VfquebAugh4aul,  are  both  made  of 
Oats.  K  %  THERE 


4       ^Description  o/f/je 

THERE  are  feveral  convenient  Bays  and 
Harbours  in  this  Ifland.    Loch-Grace  and  Loch» 
tux  lying  Norweft,  are  not  to  be  reckon'd 
fuch  ;  tho  Veffels  are  forc'd  in  there  fometimes 
by  ftorm.     Loch-Stornvay  Ues  on  the  Eaft  fide 
in  the  middle  of  the  Ifland,  and  is  i8  Miles 
diredly  South  from  the  Northermoft  Point  of 
the  fame.    It  is  a  Harbour  well  known  by 
Seamen.    There  are  feveral  places  for  anchor- 
ing about  half  a  League  on  the  South  of  this 
Coafl:.     About  7  miles  Southward  there  is  a 
good  Harbour,  call'd  the  Birkin  Ijles :  within 
the  Bay  call'd  Loch-Colmkill^  3  miles  further 
South,  lies  Loch-Erifort,  which  hath  an  An- 
choring-place  on  the  South  and  North :  about 
5  miles  South  lies  Loch-f en-fort,  having  two 
vifible  Rocks  in  the  Entry  ;  the  beft  Harbour 
is  on  the  South  fide. 

ABOUT  24  miles  South- weft  lies  Loch- 
Carlvajy  a  very  capacious,  tho  unknown  Har- 
bour, being  never  frequented  by  any  Veffels : 
tho  the  Natives  alTure  me  that  it  is  in  all  re- 
fpe£ls  a  convenient  Harbour  for  Ships  of  the 
firft  rate.  The  beft  Entrance  looks  North  and 
North-weft,  but  there  is  another  from  the 
Weft.  On  the  South  fide  of  the  Ifland  Ber^ 
nera,  there  are  fmall  Iflands  without  the  En- 
trance, which  contribute  much  to  the  Security 
of  the  Harbour,  by  breaking  the  Winds  and 
Seas  that  come  from  the  great  Ocean.     Four 

miles 


Weftern  I/lands  of  Scotland.  5 

miles  to  the  South  on  this  Coaft,  is  Loch-Rogue^ 
which  runs  in  among  the  Mountains.  All  the 
Coafts  and  Bays  above-mention'd,  do  in  fair 
Weather  abound  with  Cod,  Ling,  Herring,  and 
all  other  forts  of  Fifhes  taken  in  the  Weftern 
Iflands. 

COD  and  Ling  are  of  a  very  large  fize,  and 
very    plentiful    near   Loch-Carlvay ;    but    the 
Whales  very  much  interrupt  the  Fifliing  in 
this  place.    There  is  one  fort  of  Whale  re- 
markable for  its  Greatnefs,  which  the  Fifher- 
men  diftinguifh  from  all  others  by  the  Name  of 
the  GAlUn-Whiile ;  becaufe  they  never  fee  it  but 
at  the  Promontory  of  that  Name.    I  was  told 
by  the  Natives,  that  about  1 5  Years  ago,  this 
great  Whale   overturn'd  a  Fifhers-boat,  and 
devour'd  three  of  the  Crew  ;  the  fourth  Man 
was  fav'd  by  another  Boat  which  happened  to 
be  near,  and  faw  this  Accident.     There  are 
many  Whales  of  different  fizes,  that  frequent 
the  Herring-Bays  on  the  Eaft  fide  :  the  Natives 
imploy  many  Boats  together  in  purfuit  of  the 
Whales,  chafing  them  up  into  the  Bays,  till 
they  wound  one  of  them  mortally,  and  then 
it  runs  afhore;  and  they  fay  that  all  the  reft 
commonly  follow  the  track  of  its  Blood,  and 
run  themfelves  alfo  on  fhore  in  like  manner,  by 
which  means  many  of  them  are  kill'd.     About 
five  years  ago  there  were  fifty  young  Whales 
kill'd  in  this  manner,  and  moft  of  them  eaten 
by  the  common  People,  who  by  experience  find 
A  ^  them 


6  J^  D£  S  C  R  I  P  T  I  O  N    of  tU 

them  to  be  very  nourifhing  Food.  This  I 
have  been  afTur'd  of  by  feveral  Perfons,  but  par- 
ticularly by  fome  poor  meagre  People,  who  be- 
came plump  and  lufty  by  this  Food  in  the  fpace 
of  a  Week  :  they  call  it  ^ea-Pork^  for  fo  it  fig- 
nifies  in  their  Language.  The  bigger  Whales 
are  more  purgative  than  thefe  lefler  ones,  but 
the  latter  are  better  for  Nourifhment. 

THE  Bays  afford  plenty  of  Shell-fifli,  as 
Clams,  Oyfters,  Cockles,  MufTels,  Lympits, 
Wilks,  Spout-fifh  ;  of  which  lall:  there  is  fuch 
a  prodigious  quantity  caft  up  out  of  the  Sand 
of  Loch-tfM,  that  their  noifom  Smell  infers  the 
Air,  and  makes  it  very  unhealthful  to  the  In- 
habitants, who  are  not  able  to  confume  them, 
bv  eating  or  fatning  their  Ground  with  them : 
and  this  they  fay  happens  moll  commonly  once 
in  feven  Years. 

THE  Bays  and  Coafts  of  this  Ifland  afford 
great  quantity  of  fmall  Coral,  not  exceeding  fix 
Inches  in  length,  and  about  the  bignefs  of  a 
Goofe's  Quill.  This  abounds  moil  in  Loch-Jea- 
fort,  and  there  is  Coraline  likewife  on  this 
Coaft. 

THERE  are  a  great  many  Frefh-water 
Lakes  in  this  Ifland,  which  abound  with  Trouts 
and  Eels.  T  he  common  Bait  usM  for  catching 
them  is  Farthworms,  but  a  handful  of  parboiFd 
MufTels  thrown  into  the  Water,  attracts  the 

Trouts 


Weft  em  Iflands  of  Scotland.  7 

Trouts  and  Eels  to  the  place  :  the  fitteft  time 
for  catching  them,  is,  when  the  Wind  blows 
from  the  South- weft.  There  are  feveral  Rivers 
on  each  fide  this  Ifland  which  afford  Salmons, 
as  aifo  black  MulTels,  in  which  many  times 
Pearl  is  found. 

THE  Natives  in  the  Village  B^r-z^/^  retain 
an  antient  Cuftom  of  fending  a  Man  very  early 
to  crofs  Barvas  River,  every  lirft  Day  of  May, 
to  prevent  any  Females  crofling  it  firft  ;  for 
that  they  fay  would  hinder  the  Salmon  from 
coming  into  t!ie  River  all  the  year  round : 
they  pretend  to  have  learn'd  this  from  a  foreign 
Sailor,  who  was  fhipwreck'd  upon  that  Coail 
a  long  time  ago.  This  Obfervation  they  main- 
tain to  be  true  from  Experience. 

THERE  are  feveral  Springs  and  Fountains 
of  curious  Effects ;  fuch  as  that  at  Loch-Carlvaj, 
that  never  whitens  Linen,  which  hath  often 
been  try'd  by  the  Inhabitants.  The  Well  at 
St.  Cowfieri's  Church  never  boils  any  kind  of 
Meat,  tho  it  be  kepc  on  fire  a  whole  day. 
St.  Andren-^s  Well  in  the  Village  Shadar  is  by  the 
vulgar  Natives  made  a  Teft  to  know  if  a  fick 
Perfon  will  die  of  the  Diftemper  he  labours 
under.  They  fend  one  with  a  wooden  Difh  to 
bring  fome  of  the  Water  to  the  Patient,  and  if 
the  DiQi  which  is  then  laid  foftly  upon  the  Sur- 
face of  the  Water  turn  round  Sun-ways,  they 
conclude  that  the  Patient  will  recover  of  that 
Diftemper ;  but  if  other  wife,  that  he  will  die. 
A  4  THERE 


8        *// Description  of  the 

THERE  are  many  Caves  on  the  Coafl:  of 
this  Ifland,  in  which  great  numbers  of  Otters 
and  Seals  do  lie  ;  there  be  alfo  many  Land  and 
Sea-Fowls  that  build  and  hatch  in  them.  The 
Cave  in  Loch-Grace  hath  feveral  pieces  of  a 
hard  Subftance  in  the  bottom,  which  diftil  from 
the  top  of  it.  There  are  feveral  natural  and 
artificial  Forts  in  the  Coaft  of  this  Ifland, 
which  are  call'd  Dun^  from  the  hi^  word  Dmn^ 
which  fignifies  a  Fort.  The  natural  Forts  here 
are  Dun-owUy  Dun-corAdily  Dun-eifien. 

THE  Caftle  at  Stornvay-WWdigQ  was  de- 
ftroy'd  by  the  Englifh  Garifon,  kept  there  by 
Oliver  Cromwell,  Some  few  miles  to  the  North 
of  Br  ago  there  is  a  Fort  compos'd  of  large 
Stones ;  it  is  of  a  round  form,  made  taperwife 
towards  the  top,  and  is  three  ftories  high :  the 
Wall  is  double,  and  hath  feveral  Doors  and 
Stairs,  fo  that  one  may  go  round  within  the 
Wall.  There  are  fome  Cairnes  or  Heaps  of 
Stones  gather'd  together  on  Heaths,  and  fome 
of  them  at  a  great  diftance  from  any  Ground 
that  affords  Stones  :  fuch  as  Cain^rvarf  near 
Mourmgh-Hi\]^  &c,  Thefe  artificial  Forts  are 
likewife  built  upon  Heaths  at  a  confiderable 
diftance  alfo  from  ftony  Ground.  The  Thrujhel 
Stone  in  the  Parifh  of  Barvas  is  above  20  foot 
high,  and  almoft  as  much  in  breadth.  There 
are  three  erecled  Stones  upon  the  North  fide 
of  Loch'Carlvajy  about  1 2  foot  high  each.  Se- 
veral 


Wejlern  I/lands  of  Scotland.  p 

veral  other  Stones  are  to  be  feen  here  in  remote 
places,  and  Tome  of  them  ftanding  on  one  end. 
Some  of  the  ignorant  Vulgar  fay,  they  were 
Men  by  Inchantment  turn'd  into  Stones ;  and 
others  fay,  they  are  Monuments  of  Perfons  of 
Note  kiird  in  Battel. 

THE  moft  remarkable  Stones  for  Number, 
Bignefs,  and  Order,  that  fell  under  my  Obfer- 
vation,  were  at  the  Village  of  CUjfermfs  ]  where 
there  are  39  Stones  fet  up  6  or  7  foot  high,  and 
2  foot  in  breadth  each :  they  are  plac'd  in  form 
of  an  Avenue,  the  breadth  of  which  is  8  foot, 
and  the  diftance  between  each  Stone  fix ;  and 
there  is  a  Stone  fet  up  in  the  Entrance  of  this 
Avenue :  at  the  South  end  there  is  join'd  to 
this  Range  of  Stone  a  Ci'rcle  of  1 2  Stones  of 
equal  diftance  and  height  with  the  other  39. 
There  is  one  fet  up  in  the  Center  of  this  Circle, 
which  is  I  ^  foot  high,  and  fhap'd  like  the  Rud- 
der of  a  Ship  :  without  this  Circle  there  are  4 
Stones  ftanding  to  the  Weft,  at  the  fame  dif- 
tance with  the  Stones  in  the  Circle  ;  and  there 
are  4  Stones  fet  up  in  the  fame  manner  at  the 
South  and  Eaft  fides.     I  enquir'd  of  the  Inha- 
bitants what  Tradition  they  had  from  their 
Anceftors  concerning  thefe  Stones  ;  and  they 
told  me,  it  was  a  Place  appointed  for  Worfhip 
in  the  time  of  Heathenifm,  and  that  the  Chief 
Druid  or  Prieft  ftood  near  the  big  Stone  in  the 
center,  from  whence  he  addrefs'd  himfelf  to 
the  People  that  furrounded  him. 

UPON 


I  o      ^  D  E  s  c  R  I  p  T  I  o  N  0/  r/;^ 

UPON  the  fame  Coafl:  alfo  there  is  a  Circle 
of  high  Stones  ftanding  on  one  end,  about  a 
quarter  of  a  mile's  diftance  from  thofe  above- 
mention'd. 

THE  Shore  in  Eggmefs  abounds  with  many 
little  fmooth  Stones  prettily  variegated  with  all 
forts  of  Colours ;  they  are  of  a  round  Form, 
which  is  probably  occafion'd  by  the  toiling  of 
the  Sea,  'which  in  thofe  parts  is  very  violent. 

THE  Cattle  prod uc'd  here  are  Cows,  Hor- 
fes,  Sheep,  Goats,  Hogs.  Thefe  Cows  are  little, 
but  very  fruitful,  and  their  Beef  very  fweetand 
tender.  The  Horfes  are  confiderably  lefs  here, 
than  in  the  oppofite  Continent,  yet  they  plow 
and  harrow  as  well  as  bigger  Horfes,  tho  in 
the  Spring-time  they  have  nothing  to  feed  upon 
but  Sea-ware.  There  are  abundance  of  Deer 
in  the  Chafe  of  Ofervml^  which  is  1 5  miles  in 
compafs,  confiding  in  Mountains,  and  Valleys 
between  them  :  this  atfords-good  Pafturage  for 
the  Deer,  black  Cattle,  and  Sheep.  This  Fo- 
refl,  for  fo  they  call  it,  is  furrounded  with  the 
Sea,  except  about  one  mile  upon  the  Weil:  fide : 
the  Deer  are  forc'd  to  feed  on' Sea- ware,  when 
the  Snow  and  Froft  continue  long,  having  no 
"Wood  to  flielter  in,  and  fo  are  expos'd  to  the 
Rigour  of  the  Seafon. 

I  SAW  big  Roots  of  Trees  at  the  head  of 
Loch'Erif^ort^   and  there  is  about  a  hundred 

young 


Weftem  IJlands  of  Scotland.  1 1 

young  Birch  and  Hazle  Trees  on  the  South- 
weft  fide  of  Loch'Stornvaj,  but  there  is  no 
more  Wood  in  the  Ifland.  There's  great  va- 
riety of  Land  and  Sea-Fowls  to  be  feen  in  this 
and  the  lelTer  adjacent  Iflands. 

THE  Amfhihia.  here  are  Seals  and  Otters; 
the  former  are  eaten  by  the  Vulgar,  who  find 
them  to  be  as  nourifhing  as  Beef  and  Mutton. 

THE  Inhabitants  of  this  Ifland  are  well 
proportion'd,  free  from  any  bodily  Imperfec- 
tions, and  of  a  good  Stature  :  the  Colour  of 
their  Hair  is  commonly  a  light-brown,  or  red, 
but  few  of  them  are  black.  They  are  a  health- 
ful and  ftrong^body'd  People,  feveral  arrive  to 
a  great  Age :  Mr.  Dmiel  Mortfoft^  late  Minifter 
of  Barvas,  one  of  my  Acquaintance,  died  late- 
ly in  his  86th  Year. 

THEY  are  generally  of  a  fanguine  Confti- 
tution  :  this  Place  hath  not  been  troubled  with 
Epidemical  Difeafes,  except  the  Small- Pox, 
which  comes  but  feidom,  and  then  it  fweeps 
away  many  young  People.  The  Chin-cough 
afflids  Children  too :  the  Fever,  Diarrhea,  Dy- 
fenteria,  and  the  falling  down  of  the  Uvula, 
Fevers,  Jaundice  and  Stitches,  and  the  ordina- 
ry Coughs  proceeding  from  Cold,  are  the 
Difeafes  moft  prevalent  here.  The  common 
Cure  us'd  for  removing  Fevers  and  Pleurifies, 
is  to  let  Blood  plentifully.      For  curing  the 

Diarrhea 


12      ^Description  o/f/?e 

Diarrhea  and  Dyfenteria,  they  take  fmall  quan- 
tities of  the  Kernel  of  the  black  Molocca  Beans, 
caird  by  them  Croffunk ;  and  this  being  ground 
into  powder,  and  drunk  in  boil'd  Milk,  is  by 
daily  experience  found  to  be   very  effeftual. 
They  likewife  ufe  a  little  Dofe  of  Trefiarig 
Water  with  good  fuccefs.     When  the  Cough 
affefts  them,   they  drink  Brochm  plentifully, 
which  is  Oat-meal  and  Water  boil'd  together ; 
to  which  they  fometimes  add  Butter.     This 
Drink  us'd  at  going  to  bed,  difpofeth  one  to 
fleep  and  fweat,  and  is  very  diuretick,  if  it 
hath  no  Salt  in  it.    They  ufe  alfo  the  Roots  of 
Nettles,  and  the  Roots  of  Reeds  boiPd  in  Wa- 
ter, and  add  Yeaft  to  it,  which  provokes  it  to 
ferment;  and  this  they  find  alfo  beneficial  for 
the  Cough.     When  the  Uvuli   falls  down, 
they  ordinarily  cut  it,  in  this  manner :  They 
take  a  long  Qiiill,  and  putting  a  Horfe-hair 
double  into  it,  make  a  noofe  at  the  end  of  the 
Quill,  and  putting  it  about  the  lower  end  of 
the  Uvula,  they  cut  off  from  the  Uvula  all 
that's  below  the  Hair  with  a  pair  of  Sciffors ; 
and  then  the  Patient  fwallows  a  little  Bread  and 
Cheefe,  which  cures  him.    This  Operation  is 
not  attended  with  the  leaft  Inconvenience,  and 
cures  the  Diftemper  fo  that  it  never  returns. 
Theycure  green  Wounds  with  Ointment  made 
of  Golden-rod,    All-heal,    and   frefli  Butter. 
The  Jaundice  they  cure  two  ways :  the  firft 
is  by  laying  the  Patient  on  his  face,  and  pre- 
tending to  look  upon  his  Back-bones,  they 

pre- 


Wefiern  Jflands  of  Scotland.         i  j 

prefently  pour  a  Pail-full  of  cold  Water  on  his 
bare  Back ;  and  this  proves  fuccefsful.  The 
fecond  Cure  they  perform  by  taking  the  Tongs, 
and  making  them  red-hot  in  the  Fire ;  then 
pulling  off  the  Clothes  from  the  Patient's  Back, 
he  who  holds  the  Tongs  gently  touches  the  Pa- 
tient on  the  Vertebra  upwards  of  the  Back, 
which  makes  him  furioufly  run  out  of  doors, 
ftill  fuppofing  the  hot  Iron  is  on  his  Back,  till 
the  Pain  be  abated,  which  happens  very  ipee- 
dily,  and  the  Patient  recovers  foon  after.  Do- 
ndd'Chuan,  in  a  Village  near  Brag/r,  in  the 
Parifh  of  Barvas,  had  by  Accident  cut  his 
Toe  at  the  Change  of  the  Moon,  and  it  bleeds 
a  frelh  Drop  at  every  Change  of  the  Moon 
ever  fince. 

JNNJ,  Daughter  to  Gfor^f,  in  the  Village 
of  Melhofi,  in  the  Parifh  of  £;,  having  been 
with  Child,  and  the  ordinary  time  of  her  De- 
livery being  expir'd,  the  Child  made  its  Paf- 
fage  by  the  Fundament  for  fome  Years,  com- 
ing away  Bone  after  Bone.  She  liv'd  feveral 
Years  after  this,  but  never  had  any  more  Chil- 
dren. Some  of  the  Natives,  both  of  the  Ifland 
of  Lewis  and  Harries^  who  convers'd  with  her 
at  the  time  when  this  extraordinary  thing 
happen'd,  gave  me  this  Account. 

THE  Natives  are  generally  ingenious  and 
quick  of  Apprehenfion  ;  they  have  a  mechani- 
cal Genius,   and  feveral  of  both  Sexes  have  a 

Gift 


14      ^Description  of  the 

Gift  of  Poefy,  and  are  able  to  form  a  Satire  or 
Panegyrick  ex  tempore^  without  the  Afliftance 
of  any  ftronger  Liquor  than  Water  to  raife 
their  Fancy.  They  are  great  Lovers  o^  Mufick  ; 
and  when  I  was  there  thqy  gave  an  Account 
of  eighteen  Men  who  could  play  on  the  Violin 
precty^  well,  without  being  taught :  They  are 
ftill  very  hofpitable,  but  the  late  Years  of 
Scarcity  brought  them  very  low,  and  many  of 
the  poor  People  have  died  by  Famine.  The 
Inhabitants  are  very  dextrous  in  the  Exercifes 
of  Swimming,  Archery,  Vaulting,  or  Leap- 
ing, and  are  very  ftout  and  able  Seamen  ;  they 
will  tug  at  the  Oar  all  day  long  upon  Bread 
and  Water,  and  a  Snuflh  of  Tobacco, 


of  the  infcriow  adjacent  IJlands. 

WITHOUT  the  Mouth  of  Loch-Carl- 
vay  lies  the  fmall  Ifland  Garve ;  it  is  a 
high  Rock,  about  half  a  Mile  incompafs,  and 
fit  only  for  Pafturage.  Not  far  from  this  lies 
the  Ifland  Berinfay^  which  is  a  quarter  of  a 
Mile  in  compafs,  naturally  a  flrong  Fort,  and 
formerly  us'd  as  fuch,  being  almoft  inaccefiible. 

THE  Ifland  FUdda,  which  is  of  fmall  com- 
ftf-fs,  lies  between  Bermfay  and  the  main  Land. 

Within 


Wejlern  Iflands  of  Scotland.         1 5 

Within  thefe  lies  the  Ifland  call'd  Bernem  Mi- 
nor,  two  Miles  in  length,  and  fruitful  in  Corn 
and  Grafs.  Within  this  Ifland,  in  the  middle 
of  Loch-Carhay,  Hes  the  Ifland  Bernera  Major, 
being  four  Miles  in  length,  and  as  much  in 
breadth  :  It  is  fruitful  alio  in  Corn  and  Grafs, 
and  hath  four  Villages.  Alexander  Mack-Lenan, 
who  lives  in  Berber  a  Major,  told  me,  that 
fome  Years  ago  a  very  extraordinary  Ebb  hap- 
pen'd  there,  exceeding  any  that  had  been  feen 
before  or  fince ;  it  happen'd  about  the  Vernal 
Equinox,  the  Sea  retifd  fo  far  as  to  difcover  a 
Stone-wall,  the  length  of  it  being  about  40 
yards,  and  in  fome  parts  about  5,  6,  or  7  foot 
high,  they  fuppofe  much  more  of  it  to  be  un- 
der Water :  it  lies  oppofite  to  the  Wefl:-fide  of 
Lewis,  to  which  it  adjoins.  He  fays  that  it  is 
regularly  built,  and  without  all  doubt  the  ef- 
feS:  of  human  Indufl:ry.  The  Natives  had  no 
Tradition  about  this  piece  of  Work,  fo  that  I 
can  form  no  other  Conje(3:ure  about  it,  but 
that  it  has  probably  been  ereOied  for  a  Defence 
againfl:  the  Sea,  or  for  the  ufe  of  Fifhermen, 
but  came  in  time  to  be  overflow'd.  Near  to 
both  Berneras  lie  the  fmall  Iflands  of  Kjdtfay, 
Cavay,  Carvay,  and  Grenim. 

NEAR  to  the  North- wefl:  Promontory  of 
Or/^'^J  Bay,  Q.2.VCdi' Galen-head,  are  the  little 
Iflands  of  Pabbay,  Shi  rem,  Fax  ay,  IVuya,  the 
Great  and  LelTer.  To  the  North-wefl:  of 
GalUn-head,  and  within  Ox  Leagues  of  it,    lie 

the 


i6      ^Descriptton  of  the 

the  FUfinm-IJlands,   which  the  Seamen   call 
North-hunters  ;  they  are  but  fmall  Iflands,  and 
fix  in  number,    and  maintain  about   feventy 
Sheep  yearly.     The  Inhabitants  of  the  adja- 
cent Lands  of  the  Lewis^  having  a  right  to  thefe 
lOands,  vifit  them  onCe  every  Summer,   and 
there  make  a  great  purchafe  of  Fowls,  Eggs, 
Down,  Feathers,  and  Quills.     When  they  go 
to  Sea,  they  have  their  Boat  well  mann'd,  and 
make  towards  the  Iflands  with  an  Eaft-Wind  ; 
bat  if  before  or  at  the  Landing  the  Wind  turn 
Wefteriy,  they  hoift  up  Sail,  and  fteer  direft- 
ly  home  again.     If  any  of  their  Crew  is  a 
Novice,  and  not  vers'd  in  the  Cuftoms  of  the 
place,  he  muft  be  infl:ru6led  perfectly  in  all 
the  Punctilio's  obferv'd  here  before  Landing  ; 
and  to  prevent  Inconveniences  that  they  think 
may  enfue  upon  the  Tranfgreilion  of  the  leaft 
Nicety  obferv'd  here,  every  Novice  is  always 
join'd  with  another,  that  can  infl:ru£l  him  all 
the  time  of  their  Fowling :  fo  all  the  Boat's 
Crew  are  match'd  in  this  manner.     i\fter  their 
Landing,  they  faft:en  the  Boat  to  the  fides  of  a 
Rock,  and  then  fix  a  wooden  Ladder,  by  lay- 
ing a  Stone  at  the  foot  of  it,    to  prevent  its 
falling  into  the  Sea  ;   and  when  they  are  got 
up  into  the  Ifland,   all  of  them  uncover  their 
Heads,   and  make  a  turn  Sun-ways   round, 
thanking  God  for  their  Safety.    The  firfl:  In- 
junction given  after  Landing,  is  not  to  eafe  Na- 
ture in  that  place  where  the  Boat  lies,  for  tliat 
they  reckon  a  Crime  of  the  higheft  nature, 

and 


Wefleni  Ifands  of  Scotland.  77 

and  of  dangerous  confequence  to  all  their 
Crew  ;  for  they  have  a  great  regard  to  that 
very  piece  of  the  Rock  upon  which  they  firft 
fet  their  Feet,  after  efcaping  the  danger  of  the 
Ocean. 

THEbiggeftof  thefeiaands  is  calPd  7/7^W- 
More\  it  has  the  Ruins  of  a  Chappel  dedicated 
to  St.  FUnnan^  from  whom  the  ifland  derives 
its  Name.  When  they  are  come  within  about 
20  Paces  of  the  Altar,  they  all  ftrip  themfelves 
of  their  upper  Garments  at  once  ;  and  their  up- 
per Clothes  being  laid  upon  a  Stone,  which 
ftands  there  on  purpofe  for  that  ufe,  all  the 
Crew  pray  three  times  before  they  begin  Fowl- 
ing :  the  iirfl:  day  they  fay  the  firll  Prayer,  ad- 
vancing towards  the  Chappel  upon  their  Knees; 
the  fecond  Prayer  is  faid  as  they  go  round  the 
Chappel ;  the  third  is  faid  hard  by  or  at  the 
Chappel :  and  this  is  their  Morning-Service. 
Their  Fefpers  are  perform'd  with  the  like  num- 
ber of  Prayers.  Another  Rule  is,  That  it  is 
abfolutely  unlawful  to  kill  a  Fowl  with  a  Scone, 
for  that  they  reckon  a  great  Barbarity,  and  di- 
re£i:ly  contrary  to  antient  Cuftom. 

IT  is  alfo  unlawful  to  kill  a  Fowl  before 
they  afcend  by  the  Ladder.  It  is  abfolutely 
unlawful  to  call  the  Ifland  of  St.Kjlda  (^which 
lies  thirty  Leagues  Southward)  by  its  proper 
Iriftf  Name  H^r^,  but  only  the  high  Country. 
They  muft  not  fo  much  as  once  name  the 
B  Illands 


I  8        ^Description  of  the 

Iflands    in  which  they   are  fowling,   by  tlie 
ordinary  Name  FUmmn^  but  only  the  Coun- 
try.    There  are  feveial  other  things  that  muft 
not  be  call'd  by  their  common  Names :  e.  g, 
Fisk,  which  in  the  Language  of  the  Natives 
fignifies  K^^^^r,  they  call  B^/-;^ :  a  Rock,  which 
in  their  Language  is  Creg,  muft  here  be  call'd 
Cruejy  I.  e.  hard :  Shore  in  their  Language  ex- 
prefs'd  by  CUddach,  muft  here  be  call'd  Fah, 
i.e,  a  C^ve :   Sour  in    their   Language  is  ex- 
prefs'd  Gort^   but  muft  here  be  call'd  G^w, 
i.e.  Sharf:    Slippery,  which   is    exprefs'd  Bogy 
muft  be  call'd  6'fl/> :  and  feveral  other  things 
to  this  purpofe.     They  account  it  alfo  unlaw- 
ful to  kill  a  Fowl  after  Evening-Prayers.  There 
is  an  antient  Cuftom,  by  which  the  Crew  is- 
oblig'd  not  to  cajry  home  any  Sheep-fuet,  let 
them  kill  ever  fo  many  Sheep  in  thefe  Iflands. 
One  of  their  principal  Cuftoms  is  not  to  fteal 
or  eat  .any  thing  unknown  to  their   Partner, 
elfe  the  Tranfgreffor  (they  fay)  will  certain- 
ly vomit  it  up ;  which  they  reckon  as  a  juft 
fudgment.     When   they  have    loaded    their 
Boat    fufticiently  with  Sheep,   Fowls,    Eggs,. 
Down,  Filh,  c^c  they  make  the  beft  of  their 
way  homeward.     It's  obferved  of  the  Sheep 
of  thefe  Iflands,  that  they  are  exceeding  fet, 
aad  have  long  Horns. 

I  HAD  this  fuperftitious  Account  not  only 
from  feveral  of  the  Natives  of  the  Lems,  but 
iikewife  from  two  who  had  been  in  the  FUfj^ 

nan 


Weficrn  I/lands  of  Scotland.  ip 

nm  Iflands  the  preceding  Year.  I  ask'd  one 
of  them  if  he  pray'd  at  home  as  often,  and  as 
fervently  as  he  did  when  in  the  tUnnm  Iflands, 
and  he  plainly  cOnfefs'd  to  me  that  he  did  not : 
adding  further,  that  tliefe  remote  Iflands  were 
places  of  inherent  Sanftity  ;  and  that  there 
was  none  ever  yet  landed  in  them  but  found 
bimfelf  more  difpos'd  to  Devotion  there,  than 
any  where elfe.  The  Ifland  o^  P'tgmies^  or,  as 
the  Natives  call  it,  The  Iflx^d  of  Little  Men, 
is  but  of  fmall  extent.  There  has  been  many 
fmall  Bones  dug  out  of  the  Ground  here,  re- 
fembling  thofe  of  Human  Kind  more  than  any 
other.  This  gave  ground  to  a  Tradition 
which  the  Natives  have  of  a  very  Low-ftatur'd 
People  living  once  here,  call'd  Lusbirda^i^  i.e. 
Pigmies, 

THE  Ifland  Ro^a  is  reckon'd  about  20 
Leagues  from  the  North-eafl:  Point  of  Nefs  in 
Lewis,  and  counted  but  a  Mile  in  length,  and 
about  half  a  Mile  in  breadth :  it  hath  a  Hill 
in.  the  Wefl:  part,  and  is  only  viflble  from  the 
Lewis  in  a  fair  Summers-day.  I  had  an  Ac- 
count of  this  little  Ifland,  and  the  Cufl:om 
of  it  from  feveral  Natives  of  Lewis,  who  had 
been  upon  the  place  ;  but  more  particularly 
from  Mr.  Daniel  Mortfon,  Minifl:er  of  B.trvds, 
after  his  Return  from  Ronx  Ifland,  which  then 
belong'd  to  him,  as  part  of  his  Glebe,  Upon 
my  landing  (fays  he)  the  Natives  receivM  me 
very  atFe<^ionately,  and  addrefs'd  me  with 
B  2  their 


20  ^  D  E  S  C  R  I  P  T  I  O  N   o/   fie 

their  ufaal  Salutation  to  a  Stranger  :  Godfave 
jo»,  Pilgrim^  you  are  heartily  welcome  here  ;  for 
we  have  had  repeated  Apparitions  of  your  Perfon 
among  u^   (after  the   manner    of  the  fecond 
Sight)    and  ive  heartily  congratulate   your  Arri- 
val in  this   our   remote  Country.      One  of  the 
Natives  would  needs  exprefs  his  high  Efteem 
for  my  Perfon,  by  making  a  turn  round  about 
me  Sun-ways,  and  at  the  fame  time  blefTing 
mc,  and  wifliing  me  all  Happinefs;  but  I  bid 
him  let  alone  that*  piece  of  Homage,  telling 
him  I  was  fenfible  of  his  good  Meaning  to- 
wards me:    but    this  poor  Man   was  not  a 
little  difappointed,    as  were   alfo  his  Neigh- 
bours ;  for  they  doubted  not  but  this  antient 
Ceremony  would  have  been  very  acceptable  to 
me :  and  one  of  them  told  me,  That  this  was 
a  thing  due  to  my  Charader  from  them,  as  to 
their  Chief  and  Patron,  and  they  could  not,  nor 
'would  not  fail  to  perform  it.     They  conduced 
me  to    the  little  Village   where  they  dwell, 
and  in  the  way  thither  there  were  three  In- 
clofures  •   and  as  I  entred  each  of  thefe,  the 
Inhabitants  feverally  faluted   me,  taking  me 
by  the    hand,    and  faying.    Traveller^  you  are 
welcome  here.     They  went  along  with  me  to 
the  Floufe  that  they  had  afljgn'd  for  my  Lodg- 
ing; where  there  was  a  bundle  of  Straw  laid 
on   the  Floor,  for  a  Seat  for  me  to  fit  upon. 
After  a  little  time  was  fpent  in  general  Dif- 
courfe,  the  Inhabitants    retir'd    to   their    re- 
fpcclive  Dwelling-Houfes ;  and  in  this  Interval, 

they 


IVcflern  IJlands  of  Scotland.         2  \ 

they  kilPd  each  "Man  a  Sheep,  being  in  all 
iive,  anfwerable  to  the  number  of  their  Fami- 
lies.    The  Skins"  of  the  Sheep  were  intire,  and 
flay'd  off  fo  from  the  Neck  to  the  Tail,  tliat 
they  were  in  form  like  a  Sack.     Thefe  Skins 
being  flay'd  off  after  this  manner,  were  by  the 
Inhabitants  inllantly  filPd  with  Barley-meal ; 
and  this  they  gave  me  by  way  of  a  Prefent  : 
one  of  their  number  a6led  as  Speaker  for  the 
reff,  faying,  Traveller^  we  are  very  fenfihle  of  the 
Favour  you  have  done  us  in  coming  jo  far  with  a 
Defign  to  inftruci  us  in  our  way  to  Happinefs^  and 
at  the  fame  time  to  venture  your  f  If  on  the  great 
Ocean  ;  ^ray  be  pleas'' d  to  accept  of  this  fmall  Pre- 
fenty  which  we  humbly  offer  04  an  Expreffion  of  our 
fincere  Love  to  you.     This  I  accepted,  tho  in  a 
very  coarfe  Drefs ;  but  it  was  given  with  fuch 
an  Air  of  Hofpitality  and  Good-will,  as  de- 
ferv'd  Thanks.    They  prefented  my  Man  alfo 
with  fome  pecks  of  Meal,  as  being  likewife  a 
Traveller  :    the  Boats-Crew  having   been  m 
Rona  before,  were  not  reckoned  Strangers,  and 
therefore  there  was  no  Prefent  given  them,  but 
their  daily  Maintenance. 

THERE  is  a  Chappel  here  dedicated  to 
St,  Ronan,  fencM  with  a  Stone-Wall  round  it; 
and  they  take  care  to  keep  it  neat  and  clean, 
and  fweep  it  every  day.  There  is  an  Altar  in 
it,  on  which  there  lies  a  big  Plank  of  Wood 
about  ten  Foot  in  length  ;  every  Foot  has  a 
hole  in  it,  and  'm  every  hole  a  Stone,  to  which 
Bj  the 


21        ^  DeS  CRIPTIO  N    o/'  t^e 

the  Natives  afcribe  feveral  Virtues  :  one  of 
them  is  fingular,  as  they  fay,  for  promoting 
fpeedy  Delivery  to  a  Woman  in  Travail. 

THEY  repeat  the  Lord's  Prayer,  Creed, 
and  Ten  Commandments  in  the  Chappel  every 
Sunday  horning.     They  have  Cows,  Sheep, 
Barley  and  Oats,  and  live  a  harmlefs  Life,  be- 
ing perfeftly  ignorant  of  moft  of  thofe  Vices 
that  abound  in  the  World.     They  know  no- 
thing of  Mony  or  Gold,   having  no  occafion 
for  either  ;  they  neither  fell  nor  buy,  but  only 
barter  for  fuch  little  things    as   they  want : 
they  covet  no  Wealth,  being  fully  content  and 
fatisfy'd  with  Food  and  Raiment ;  tho  at  the 
fame  time  they  are  very  precife  in  the  matter 
of  Property  among  themfelves  :    for  none  of 
them  will  by  any  means  allow  his  Neighbour 
to  fiOi  within  his  Property  ;    and  every  one 
mull  exaftly  obferve   not    to   make  any  in- 
croachment  on  his  Neighbour.     They  have  an 
agreeable  and  hofpitable  Temper  for  all  Stran- 
gers :  they  concern  not  themfelves  about  the 
reft  of  Mankind,  except  the  Inhabitants  in  the 
North  part  of  Lewis.      7  hey  take  their  Sir- 
name  from  the  Colour  of  the  Sky,  Rain-bow, 
and  Clouds.     There  are  only  five  Families  in 
this  fmall  Kland,  and  every  Tenant  hath  his 
Dwell ing-houfe,  a  Barn,  a  Houfe  where  their 
beft  Effecl:s  are  preferv'd,    a  Houfe  for  their 
Cattle,  and  a  Porch  on  each  fide  of  the  Door 
to  keep  off  the  Rain  or  Snow.     Their  Houfes 

are 


Wcjlcrn  JJlands  of  Scotland.         25 

are  built  with  Stone,  and  thatched  with  Straw, 
which  is  kept  down  with  Ropes  of  the  lame, 
poisM  with  Stones.  They  wear  the  fame  Ha- 
bit with  thofe  in  Leivis,  and  fpeak  only  Ir/fh, 
When  any  of  them  comes  to  the  Lewis,  which 
is  feldom,  they  are  aftonifh'd  to  fee  fo  many 
People.  They  much  admire  Grey-hounds,  and 
love  to  have  them  in  their  company.  They 
are  mightily  pleas'd  at  the  fight  of  Horfes  ; 
and  one  of  them  obferving  a  Horfe  to  neigh, 
ask'd  if  that  Horfe  laugh'd  at  him.  A  Boy 
from  Ro»a  perceiving  a  Colt  run  towards  him, 
was  fo  much  frighted  at  it,  that  he  jump'd  into 
a  Bufh  of  Nettles,  where  his  whole  Skin  be- 
came full  of  Blifters. 

ANOTHER  of  the  Natives  of  Ro;^a 
having  had  the  opportunity  of  travelling  as 
far  as  Cord,  in  the  Shire  of  Rofs,  which  is  the 
Seat  of  Sir  Alexander  Mac-kenzie,  every  thirfg 
he  faw  there  was  furprizing  to  him  ;  and  when 
he  heard  the  noife  of  thofe  who  walk'd  in  the 
Rooms  above  him,  he  prefently  fell  to  the 
ground,  thinking  thereby  to  fave  his  Life, 
for  he  fuppos'd  that  the  Houfe  was  coming 
down  over  his  head.  When  Mr.  Mortfon  the 
Mmiller  was  in  Rona,  two  of  the  Natives 
courted  a  Maid  with  intention  to  marry  her; 
and  being  marry'd  to  one  of  them  afterv/ards, 
the  other  was  not  a  little  difappointed,  be- 
caufe  there  was  no  other  Match  for  him  in 
this  Ifland.  The  Wmd  blowing  fair,  Mr.  Mo- 
B  4  rifon 


24      ^Description  of  the 

rifon  failed  dire8:ly  for  Lervis  ;  but  after  three 
hours  failing  was  forced  back  to  Ro^a  by  a 
contrary  Wind  :  and  at  his  landing,  the  poor 
Man  that  had  loft  his  Sweetheart  was  over- 
joy'd,  and  exprefs'd  himfelf  in  thefe  words ; 
I  blefs  God  and  Rom^  that  you  are  return'd 
again,  for  I  hope  you  will  now  make  me  hap- 
py, and  give  me  a  right  to  enjoy  the  Woman 
every  other  Year  by  turns,  that  fo  we  both 
may  have  Iffue  by  her.  Mr.  Morifon  could  not 
refrain  from  fmiling  at  this  unexpected  Requeft, 
chid  the  poor  Man  for  his  unreafonable  De- 
mand, and  defir'd  him  to  have  patience  for  a 
Year  longer,  and  he  would  fend  him  a  Wife 
from  Lervis ;  but  this  did  not  eafe  the  poor 
Man,  who  was  tormented  with  the  thoughts 
of  dying  without  liTue. 

ANOTHER  who  wanted  a  Wife,  and 
having  got  a  Shilling  from  a  Seaman  that  hap- 
pened to  land  there,  went  and  gave  this  Shil- 
ling to  Mr.  Morifon,  to  purchafe  him  a  Wife  in 
the  Lewts^  and  fend  her  to  him,  for  he  was  told 
that  this  Piece  of  Mony  was  a  thing  of  ex- 
traordinary Value ;  and  his  Defire  was  grati- 
fy\l  the  enfuing  Year. 

ABOUT  14  Years  ago  a  Swarm  of  Rats, 
but  none  knows  how,  came  into  Rona^  and 
in  a  fliort  time  eat  up  all  the  Corn  in  the 
Illand.  In  a  few  months  after,  fome  Seamen 
landed  there,    who   robbed   the  poor  People 

of 


Weftern  Jflands  of  Scotland.         25 

of  their  Bull.  Thefe  Misfortunes,  and  tlie 
want  of  Supply  from  Lewis  for  the  fpace  of  a 
Year,  occafionM  the  Death  of  all  that  antient 
Race  of  People.  The  Steward  of  6V.  f(jlda 
being  by  a  Storm  driven  in  there,  told  me 
that  he  found  a  Woman  with  her  Child  on 
her  Breaft,  both  lying  dead  at  the  fide  of  a 
Rock.  Some  years  after,  the  Minifter  (to 
whom  the  Ifland  belongeth)  fent  a  new  Co- 
lony to  this  Ifland,  with  fuitable  Supplies. 
The  following  Year  a  Boat  was  fent  to  them 
with  fome  more  Supplies,  and  Orders  to  re- 
ceive the  Rents  ;  but  the  Boat  being  loft,  as  it 
is  fuppos'd,  I  can  give  no  further  account  of 
this  late  Plantation. 

THE  Inhabitants  of  this  little  Ifland  fay, 
that  the  Cuckow  is  never  feen  or  heard  here, 
but  after  the  Death  of  the  Earl  of  Seaforih,  or 
the  Minifter. 

THE  Rock  Soulisker  lieth  four  Leagues  to 
the  Eaft  of  Rona ;  it  is  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
in  Circumference,  and  abounds  with  great 
numbers  of  Sea  Fowl,  fuch  as  Solan  Geefe, 
Guillamote,  Coulter-Neb,  Puffin,  and  feve- 
ral  other  forts.  The  Fowl  called  the  Colk 
is  found  here  :  it  is  lefs  than  a  Gooie,  all 
covered  with  Down,  and  when  it  hatches  it 
cafl:s  its  Feathers,  which  are  of  divers  Colours ; 
it  has  a  Tufft  on  its  head  refembling  that"  of  a 
Peacock,  and  a  Train  longer  than  that  of  a 

Houfe- 


i6      ^  D  E  s  c  R  I  p  T  I  o  N  0/  r/?e 

Houfe-Cock,  but  the  Hen  has  not  fo  much 
Ornament  and  Beauty. , 

THE  Ifland  5/^«/,  01*,  as  the  Natives  call 
it,  IJland'More,  lies  to  the  Eaft  of  Vfljinefs 
in  Lewis^  about  a  League.  There  are  three 
fmall  Iflands  here ;  the  two  Southern  Iflands 
are  feparated  only  by  Spring-tides,  and  are 
two  miles  in  Circumference.  Iflmd-More  hath 
a  Chappel  in  it  dedicated  to  the  Virgin  Mary, 
and  is  fruitful  in  Corn  and  Grafs :  the  Ifland 
joining  to  it  on  the  Weft  is  only  for  Paftu- 
rage.  I  faw  a  couple  of  Eagles  here  :  the  Na- 
tives told  me,  that  thefe  Eagles  would  never 
fuffer  any  of  their  kind  to  live  there  but  them- 
felves,  and  that  they  drove  away  their  young 
ones  as  foon  as  they  were  able  to  fly.  And  they 
told  me  likewife,  that  thofe  Eagles  are  fo  care- 
ful of  the  place  of  their  abode,  that  they  ne- 
ver yet  killed  any  Sheep  or  Lamb  in  the 
Ifland,  tho  the  Bones  of  Lambs,  of  Fawns, 
and  Wild-Fowls,  are  frequently  found  in  and 
about  their  Nefts ;  fo  that  they  make  their 
Purchafe  in  the  oppofite  Iflands,  the  neareft 
of  which  is  a  League  dillant.  This  Ifland  is 
very  ftrong  and  inacceflible,  fave  on  one  fide 
where  the  Afcent  is  narrow,  and  fomewhat  re- 
fembling  a  Stair,  but  a  great  deal  more  high 
and  fl:eep ;  notwithftanding  which,  the  Cows 
pafs  and  repafs  by  it  fafely,  tho  one  would 
think  it  uneafy  for  a  Man  to  climb.  About  a 
Musket-fliot  further  North  lies  the  biggeft  of 

the 


Weft  em  Iflands  of  Scotland.  27 

the  Iflands  call'd  More,  being  two  miles  in 
Circumference  :  It  is  fruitful  in  Corn  and  Paf- 
turage,  the  Cows  here  are  much  fatter  than 
any  I  faw  in  the  Ifland  of  Lew^s.  There  is  a 
blue  Stone  in  the  Surface  of  the  Ground  here, 
moift  while  it  lies  there,  but  when  dry,  it  be- 
comes very  hard  ;  it  is  capable  of  any  Impref. 
fion,  and  I  have  feen  a  Sett  of  Table-Men 
made  of  this  Stone,  prettily  carved  with  diffe- 
rent Figures.  There  is  a  Promontory  in  the 
North-end  of  the  Ifland  of  Lewis,  call'd  Eoropy- 
Foint,  which  is  fuppos'd  to  be  the  furtheft  to 
North-wefl:  of  any  part  in  Europe. 

THESE  Iflands  are  divided  intotw^oPa- 
rifhes,  one  call'd  Barvas,  and  the  other  Ey 
or  T;  both  which  are  Parfonages,  and  each  of 
them  having  a  Minifl:er.  The  Names  of  the 
Churches  in  Lep;ts  Ifles,  and  the  Sains  to 
whom  they  were  dedicated,  are  St.  Columktl, 
in  the  Ifland  of  that  Name  ;  St.  Pharaer  in 
Kjernefs,  St.  Lennan  in  Sternvay,  St.  Collurn  in 
£j,  St.  Cutchou  in  Garbofi,  St.  Aula  in  Greafe^ 
St.  Michael  in  Tollofta,  St.  Collmyi  in  Garteuy 
St.  Ronan  in  Eorobie,  St.  Tho?na^  in  Hahojl, 
St.  Feter  in  Shanahofl,  St.  Clem e/t:  in  Dell,  Holy- 
Crofs  Church  in  Galan,  St.  Bri^it  in  Barove^ 
St.  Peter  in  Shiadir,  St.  Mary  in  Barvas,  St, 
^ohn  Baprifi  in  Bragar,  St.  Kjaran  in  Ltani- 
Shadir,  St.  Michael  in  Kjrvig,  St.  Macrel  in 
Kjrkthofi,  St.  Dondan  in  Little  Berr/eray,  St.  Mi- 
chael in  the   fame  Ifland,    St.  Perer  in  Pabhay 

Ifland, 


2  8      ^/Description  of  the 

Illand,  St.  Chrifl-opher's  Chappel  in  Vge,  and 
Stornvay  Church :  all  thefe  Churches  and  Chap- 
pels  were,  before  the  Reformation,  Sanftua- 
ries  ;  and  if  a  Man  had  committed  Murder, 
he  was  then  fecure  and  fafe  when  once  within 
.  their  Precinds. 

THEY  were  in  greater  Veneration  in  thofe 
days  than  now  :  it  was  the  conftant  Practice  of 
the  Natives  to  kneel  at  firft  fight  of  the  Church, 
tho  at  a  great  diftance  from  'em,  and  then  they 
fa  id  their  Pater-nofier,     John  Mortfon  of  Braotr 
told  me,  that  when  he  was  a  Boy,  and  going 
to  the  Church  of  St.  Mulvaj^  he  obferved  the 
Natives  to  kneel  and  repeat  the  Pater-nofter  at 
four  miles  diftance  from  the  Church.     The  In- 
habitants of  this  Illand  had  an  antient  Cuftom 
to  facrifice  to  a  Sea-God,  call'd  Shony^  at  Hallow- 
tide,  in  the  manner  following  :  The  Inhabi- 
tants round  the  Ifland  came  to  the  Church  of 
St. Mulvay^  having  each  Man  his  Provifion  along 
with  him  ;  every  Family  furnifh'd  a  Peck  of 
Malt,  and  this  was  brew'd  into  Ale :  one  of 
their  number  was  pick'd  out  to  wade  into  the 
Sea  up  to  the  middle,  and  carrying  a  Cup  of 
Ale  in  his  hand,  ftanding  ftill  in  that  pofture, 
cry'd  out  with   a  loud  Voice,  faying,  Shony, 
I  give  you  this  Cup  of  Ale,  hoping  that  you'll  be 
fo  kind  as  to  fend  lu  plenty  of  Sen-ware,  for  in- 
riching  our  Ground  the  enfuing  'Tear :  and  fo  threw 
the  Cup  of  Ale  into  the  Sea.     This  was  per- 
formed in  the  Night-time.     At  his  Return  to 

Land, 


Weflern  Iflands  of  Scotland.         29 

Land,  they  all  went  to  Church,  where  there 
was  a  Candle  burning  upon  the  Altar ;  and 
then  ftanding  filent  for  a  little  time,  one  of 
them  gave  a  Signal,  at  which  the  Candle  was 
put  out,  and  immediately  all  of  them  went  to 
the  Fields,  where  they  fell  a  drinkirg  their  Ale, 
and  fpent  the  remainder  of  the  Night  in  Dan- 
cing and  Singing,  &c. 

THE  next  Morning  they  all  return'd  ;'orr  ^^ 
being  well  fatisfy'd  that  they  had  puucl.  / 
obferv'd  this  Solemn  Anniverlary,  whi.:li  t"  jy 
believ'd  to  be  a  powerful  means  to  procu-re  a 
plentiful  Crop.  y[v.  Daniel  and  Mv.  J(er^f^eth 
Morifon^  Minifters  in  Lewts^  told  me  they  fpent 
feveral  Years,  before  they  could  periuade  the 
vulgar  Natives  to  abandon  this  ridiculous  piece 
of  Superftition ;  which  is  quite  abolifh'd  for 
thefe  3  2  Years  paft. 

THE  Inhabitants  are  all  Proteftants,  ex- 
cept one  Family,  who  are  Roman  Catholicks. 
I  was  told,  that  about  14  Years  ago,  three  or 
four  Filhermen,  who  then  forfook  the  Prote- 
ftant  Communion,  and  imbrac'd  the  Romifh 
Faith,  having  the  opportunity  of  a  Popifli 
Prieil:  on  the  place,  they  apply'd  themfelves  to 
him  for  fome  of  the  Holy  Water  ;  it  being  ufual 
for  the  Priefts  to  fprinkle  it  into  the  Bays,  as  an 
infallible  means  to  procure  plenty  .of  Herring, 
as  alfo  to  bring  them  into  thofe  Nets  that  are 
befprinkled  with  it.     Thefe  Fifhers  according- 


^O        ^  De  SCR  IV  T  lOlSi   of  the 

ly  having  got  the  Water,  poured  it  upon  their 
Nets  before  they  drop'd  them  into  the  Sea ; 
they  likewife  turn'd  the  infide  of  their  Coats 
outwards,  after  which  they  fet  their  Nets  in 
the  Evening  at  the  ufual  hour.  The  Proteftant 
Fifhers,  wlio  us'd  no  other  means  than  throw- 
ing their  Nets  into  the  Sea,  at  the  fame  time 
were  unconcern'd  ;  but  the  Papifts  being  im- 
patient and  full  of  expedation,  got  next  Morn- 
ing betimes  to  draw  their  Nets,  and  being  come 
to  the  place,  they  foon  perceiv'd  that  all  their 
Nets  were  loft  ;  but  the  Proteftants  found  their 
Nets  fafe,  and  full  of  Herring  :  which  was  no 
fmall  mortification  to  the  Prieft  and  his  Profe- 
iy  tes,  and  expos'd  them  to  the  derifion  of  their 
Neighbours. 

THE  Proteftant  Natives  obferve  the  Fefti- 
vals  of  Chr^fima-s,  Good-Friday^  Eafler,  and  Mi' 
chaelmas  :  upon  this  laft  they  have  an  Anniver- 
fary  Cavalcade,  and  then  both  Sexes  ride  on 
horfe-back. 

THERE  is  a  Village  call'd  Storn-Bay,  at 
the  head  of  the  Bay  of  that  Name  ;  it  confifts 
of  about  fixty  Families  :  there  are  fome  Houfes 
of  Entertainment  in  it,  asalfoa  Church,  and  a 
School,  in  which  Latin  and  Eagltfh  are  taught. 
The  Steward  of  the  Lewis  hath  his  Refidence  m 
this  Village.  The  Lewis ^  which  was  poiTefs'd 
by  Mack-Leod  of  Lewis  for  feveral  Centuries,  is, 
fince  the  Reign  of  King  James  the  Sixth,  be- 
come 


Wefiern  IJlands  of  Scotland.        ;  i 

come  the  Property  of  the  Earl  of  Seaforth^ 
who  ft  ill  enjoys  it.  j.  .  j  ^ 

..-j^ni      ..M  ^ "•  "    ''  ' 

'^L '  ix*-^  7/Ieo/"HARRIES. 

THE  H^mf^  being  feparated  from  JLejw 
is  1 8  Miles,  from  the  Hufljinefs  on  the 
Weft  Ocean  to  Loch-Seafon  in  the  Eaft ;  from 
this  bounding  to  the  Point  of  Strond  in  the 
South  of  Harries,  it  is  24  Miles  ;  and  in  fome 
places  4,  5,  and  6  Miles  in  breadth.  The  Soil 
is  almoft  the  fame  with  that  of  Lewis,  and  it 
produces  the  fame  forts  of  Corn,  but  a  greater 
Increafe. 

THE  Air  is  temperately  cold,  and  the  Na- 
tives endeavour  to  qualify  it  by  taking  a  Dofe 
of  Aquavits,  or  Brandy ;  for  they  brew  no 
fuch  Liquors  as  Treflarig,  or  Vfquehaugh-hauL 
The  Eailern  Coaft  of  Harries  is  generally 
rocky  and  mountainous,  cover'd  with  Grafs 
and  Heath.  The  Weft  fide  is  for  the  moft 
part  arable  on  the  Sea-Coaft;  fome  parts  of 
the  Hills  on  the  Eaft  fide  are  naked  without 
Earth.  The  Soil  being  dry  and  fandy,  is  fruit- 
ful when  manur'd  with  Sea-ware-  The  Grafs 
on  the  Weft  fide  is  moft  Clover  and  Dafy, 
which  in  the  Summer  yields  a  moft  fragrant 
Smell.  Next  toH^och-Stafort,  which  for  fome 
miles  divides  the  Lewis  'from  Harries,  is  the 
notable  Harbour  within  the  Ifland,   by  fea- 

faring 


;  2      ^Description  of  the 

faring  Men  call'd  GUfsy  and  by  the  Natives 
Scalpa :  it  is  a  mile  and  a  half  long  from 
South  to  North,  and  a  mile  in  breadth.  There 
is  an  Entrance  on  the  South  and  North  ends 
of  the  Ifle,  and  feveral  good  Harbours  in  each, 
well  known  to  the  generality  of  Seamen. 
Within  the  Ifle  is  Loch-Tarhat,  running  4 
miles  Weft ;  it  hath  feveral  fmall  Ifles,  and  is 
fometimes  frequented  by  Herring.  Without 
the  Loch  there  is  plenty  of  Cod,  Ling,  and 
large  Eels. 

ABOUT  half  a  League  further  on  the  fame 
Coaft,  lies  Loch-Stoknefsy  which  is  about  a  mile 
in.  length  :  there  is  a  frefh-water  Lake  at  the 
Entrance  of  the  Ifland,  which  affords  Oyfters, 
and  feveral  forts  of  FiiL,  the  Sea  having  accefs 
to  it  at  Spring-tides. 

ABOUT  a  League  and  a  half  farther  South, 
is  Loch-Fmisbay^  an  excellent,  tho  unknown 
Harbour :  the  Land  lies  low,  and  hides  it 
from  the  fight  of  the  fea-faring  Men,  till  they 
come  very  near  the  Coaft.  iTiere  are,  befides 
this  Harbour,  many  Creeks  on  this  fide,  for 
Barks  and  leiTer  Boats. 

F  R  E  S  H- water  Lakes  abound  in  this  Ifland, 
and  are  well  ftor'd  with  Trout,  Eels,  and  Sal- 
mon. Each  Lake  has  a  RivA'  running  from  it 
to  the  Sea,  from  whence  the  Salmon  comes  about 
the  beginning  of  May,  and  fooner  if  the  Seafon 

be 


Wejlern  Iflajids  of  Scotland.  3  3 

be  warm.  The  beft  time  for  angling  for  Sal- 
mon and  Trout,  is  when  a  warm  South-weft 
Wind  blows.  They  ufe  Earth-worms  com- 
monly for  Bait,  but  Cockles  attraO:  the  Salmon 
better  than  any  other. 

THERE  is  variety  of  excellent  Springs 
ifTuing  from  all  the  Mountains  of  this  Ifland, 
but  the  Wells  on  the  Plains  near  the  Sea  are 
not  good.  There  is  one  remarkable  Fountain 
lately  difcover'd  near  M^irvag-hon^QS,  on  the 
Eaftern  Coaft,  and  has  a  large  Stone  by  it, 
which  is  fufficient  to  direct  a  Stranger  to  it. 
The  Natives  find  by  experience  that  it  is  very 
effectual  for  reftoring  loft  Appetite;  all  that 
drink  of  it  become  very  foon  hungry,  though 
they  have  eat  plentifully  but  an  hour  before : 
the  truth  of  this  was  confirm'd  to  me  by  thofe 
that  were  perfe6lly  well,  and  alfo  by  thofe 
that  were  infirm  ;  for  it  had  the  fame  eftedl  on 
both. 

THERE  is  a  Well  in  the  Heath,  a  mile  to 
theEaft  from  the  Village  5(?rx'^ ;  the  Natives 
fay  that  they  find  it  efficacious  againft  Cho- 
licks,  Stitches,  and  Gravel. 

THERE  are  feveral  Caves  in  the  Moun* 
tains,  and  on  eacli^  fide  the  Coaft :  the  largeft 
and  beft  fortify'd  by  Nature,  is  that  in  the  Hill 
Vliveal,  in  the  middle  of  a  high  Rock  ;  the 
PafTage  leading  to  it  is  fo  narrow,  that  one 
C  only 


^4        ^Description  o/rk 

only  can  enter  at  a  time.  This  advantage 
renders  it  fecure  from  any  Attempt ;  for  one 
fingle  Man  is  able  to  keep  off  a  thoufand,  if 
he  have  but  a  Staff  in  his  hand,  fince  with  the 
lea  ft  touch  of  it  he  may  throw  the  ftrongefl 
Man  down  the  Rock.  The  Cave  is  capacious 
enough  for  50  Men  to  lodg  in :  it  hath  two 
Wells  in  it,  one  of  which  is  excluded  from 
Dogs ;  for  they  fay  that  if  a  Dog  do  but  tafle 
of  the  Water,  the  Well  prefently  dryeth  up  : 
and  for  this  reafon,  all  fuch  as  have  occafion 
to  lodg  there,  take  care  to  tie  their  Dogs, 
that  they  may  not  have  accefs  to  the  Water. 
The  other  Well  is  calPd  the  Dogs- Well,  and  is 
only  drunk  by  them. 

THERE  are  feveral  antient  Forts  ere6led 
here,  which  the  Natives  fay  were  built  by 
the  Danes  :  they  are  of  a  round  form,  and 
have  very  thick  Walls,  and  a  PafTage  in  'em  by 
which  one  can  go  round  the  Fort.  Some  of 
the  Stones  that  compofe  'em  are  very  large : 
thefe  Forts  are  named  after  the  Villages  in 
which  they  are  built,  as  that  in  Borve  is  call'd 
Dow^-Bor-ve,  &:c.  They  are  built  at  convenient 
diftances  on  each  fide  the  Coaft,  and  there  is  a 
Fort  built  in  every  one  of  the  lefTer  Ifles. 

THERE  are  feveral  Stones  here  ere£l:ed  on 
one  end,  one  of  which  is  in  the  Village  of 
Borve,  about  7  foot  high.  There  is  another 
Stone  of  the  fame  height  to  be  feen  in  the  op- 

pofite 


Wefiern  Ijtands  of  Scotland.  3  5 

pofite  Ifle  of  Farmfay.  There  are  feveral  Heaps 
of  Stones,  commonly  calPd  Kjmes^  on  the 
tops  of  Hills  and  rifmg  Grounds  on  the  Coafi:, 
upon  which  they  us'd  to  burn  Heath,  as  a 
Signal  of  an  approaching  Enemy.  There  was 
always  a  Sentinel  at  each  Kjime  to  obferve  the 
Sea-Coaft  ;  the  Steward  of  the  Ifle  made  fre- 
quent Rounds,  to  take  notice  of  the  Sentinels, 
and  if  he  found  any  of  them  afleep,  he  ftript 
them  of  their  Clothes,  and  defer'd  their  per- 
fonal  Punifhments  to  the  Proprietor  of  the 
Place.  This  Ifle  produceth  the  fame  kind  of 
Cattle,  Sheep,  and  Goats,  that  are  in  the  Lewis. 
The  Natives  gave  mean  account,  that  a  Couple 
of  Goats  did  grow  wild  on  the  Hills,  and  after 
they  had  increas'd,  they  were  obferv'd  to  bring 
forth  their  Young  twice  a  Year. 

THERE  are  abundance  of  Deer  in  the 
Hills  and  Mountains  here,  commonly  called 
the  Forefl:  ;  which  is  18  miles  in  length  from 
Eaft  to  Wefl: :  the  number  of  Deer  computed 
to  be  in  this  place,  is  at  leaft:  2000  ;  and 
there  is  none  permitted  to  hunt  there  without 
a  Licence  from  the  Steward  to  the  Forefl:er. 
There  is  a  particular  Mountain,  and  above  a 
Mile  of  Ground  furrounding  it,  to  which  no 
Man  hath  accefs  to  hunt,  this  place  being  re- 
ferv'd  iov MMk-l€od^h\m{d^i  \  who  when  he  is 
difpos'dto  hunt,  is  fure  to  find  Game  enough 
there. 

C  2  BOTH 


1 6  ^  D  E  S  C  R  I  P  T  I  O  N   0/  tk 

BOTH  Hills  and  Valleys  in  the  Foreft  are 
well  provided  with  plenty  of  good  Grafs  mix'd 
widi  Heath,  which  is-  all  the  fhelter  thefe 
Deer  have  during  the  Winter  and  Spring :  there 
is  not  a  Shrub  of  Wood  to  be  ken  in  all  the 
Foreft  ;  and  when  a  Storm  comes,  the  Deer 
betake  themfelves  to  the  Sea-Coaft,  where  they 
iced  upon  the  Jlga  Marm/i,  or  Sea-ware. 

THE  Mertrickj  a  four-footed  Creature,  a- 
bout  the  fize  of  a  big  Cat,  is  pretty  nume- 
rous in  this  Ifle :  they  have  a  fine  Skin,  which 
is  finooth  as  any  Fur,  and  of  a  brown  Colour. 
They  fay  that  the  Dung  of  this  Animal  yields 
a  Scent  like  Musk. 

THE  Amphibia  he^ce  are  Otters  and  Seals: 
the  latter  are  eat  by  the  meaner  fort  of  People, 
who  fay  they  are  very  nourifhing.  The  Na- 
tives take  them  with  Nets,  whofe  ends  are 
tyed  by  a  Rope  to  the  ftrong  Alga^  or  Sea-ware, 
growing  on  the  Rocks. 

THIS  Ifland  abounds  with  variety  of  Land 
and  Sea-Fowl,  and  particularly  with  very  good 
Hawks. 

THERE  are  Eagles  here  of  two  forts  ; 
the  one  is  of  a  large  fize  and  grey  colour^  and 
thefe  are  very  deftruQ:ive  to  the  Fawns,  Sheep, 
^nd  l.ambs. 

THE 


Wejlern  Iflands  of  Scotland.        37 

THE  other  is  confiderably  lefs,  and  black, 
and  fhapM  like  a  Hawk,  and  more  deltrudive 
to  the  Deer,  &c.  than  the  bigger  fort. 

THERE  is  no  venomous  Creatures  of  any 
kind  here,  except  a  Httle  Viper,  which  was 
not  thought  venomous  till  of  late,  that  a  Wo- 
man died  of  a  Wound  fl:e  receiv'd  from  one 
of  them. 

I  HAVE  feen  a  great  many  Rats  in  the  Vil- 
lage Rowdily  which  became  very  troublefome 
to  the  Natives,  and  deftroy'd  all  their  Corn, 
Milk,  Butter,  Cheefe,  &c.  They  could  not 
extirpate  thefe  Vermin  for  fome  time  by  al! 
their  endeavours.  A  confiderable  number  of 
Cats  was  employ'd  for  this  end,  but  were  llill 
worfted,  and  became  perfeQ:ly  faint,  becaufe 
overpower'd  by  the  Rats,  who  were  twenty  to 
one.  At  length  one  of  the  Natives,  of  more 
fagacity  than  his  Neighbours,  found  an  Expe- 
dient to  renew  his  Cat's  Strength  and  Courage, 
which  was  by  giving  it  warm  Milk  after  every 
Encounter  with  the  Rats ;  and  the  like  being 
given  to  all  the  other  Cats  afcer  every  Battle, 
fucceeded  fo  well,  that  they  left  not  one  Rat 
alive,  notwithftanding  thq  great  number  of 
them  in  the  place,  ' 

ON  the  Eaft-fide  the  Village  KotWi/,  there 

is  a  Circle  of  Stone,   within  8  Yards  of  the 

C  3  Shore; 


3  8      ^Description  of  the 

Shore  :  it's  about  3  fathom  under  Water,  and 
about  two  ftories  high ;  it  is  in  form  broader 
above  than  below,  like  to  the  lower  ftory  of 
a  Kiln  :  I  faw  it  perfectly  on  one  fide,  but  the 
Seafon  being  then  windy,  hinder'd  me  from  a 
full  view  of  it.  The  Natives  fay  that  there 
is  fuch  another  Circle  of  lefs  compafs  in  the 
Pool  Borodil,  on  the  other  fide  the  Bay. 

THE  Shore  on  the  Weft  Coaft  of  this 
Ifland  affords  variety  of  curious  Shells  and 
Walks  ;  as  Telling  and  Turbines  of  various 
kinds  ;  thin  PatelU,  ftreaked  blue,  various  co- 
lour'd  ;  Vecfenes,  fome  blue,  and  fome  of  Orange 
Colours, 

THE  OsSepte  is  found  on  the  Sand  in  great 
quantities.  The  Natives  pulverize  it,  and  take 
a  Dofe  of  it  in  boil'd  Milk,  which  is  found 
by  experience  to  be  an  effectual  Remedy  a- 
gainft  the  Diarrhea  and  Dyfenteria.  They  rub 
this  Powder  likewife,  to  take  off  the  Film  on 
the  Eyes  of  Sheep. 

THERE  is  variety  of  Nuts,  calVd  MoIIuka 
Beans,  fome  of  which  are  ufed  as  Amulets 
againft  Witchcraft,  or  an  evil  Eye,  particu- 
larly the  white  one  ;  and  upon  this  account 
they  are  wore  about  Child rens  Necks,  and  if 
any  Evil  is  intended  to  them,  they  fay  the 
Nut  changes  into  a  black  colour.  That,  they 
did  change  colour,  I  found  true  by  my  owa 

obfer-? 


Weftem  Iflands  of  Scotland.        ^9 

obfervation,  but  cannot  be  pofitive  as  to  the 
Caufe  of  it. 

MJ  LC  OM  Campbell,  Steward  of  Harries , 
told  me,  that  fome  Weeks  before  my  arrival 
there,  all  his  Cows  gave  Blood  inftead  of 
Milk,  for  feveral  days  together :  one  of  the 
Neighbours  told  his  Wife  that  this  mull:  be 
Witchcraft,  and  it  would  be  eafy  to  remove  it, 
if  fhe  would  but  take  the  white  Nut,  callM  the 
Virgin  Marys  Nut,  and  lay  it  in  the  Pali  into 
which  fhe  was  to  milk  the  Cows.  This  Ad- 
vice fhe  prefently  followed,  and  having  milk'd 
one  Cow  into  the  Pale  with  the  Nut  in  it,  the 
Milk  was  all  Blood,  and  the  Nut  chang'd  its 
colour  into  dark  brown  :  fhe  ufed  the  Nut 
again,  and  all  the  Cows  gave  pure  good  Milk^ 
which  they  afcribe  to  the  Virtue  of  the  Nut. 
This  very  Nut  Mr.  Campbell  prefented  me 
with,  and  I  keep  it  ftill  by  me. 

SOME  fmall  quantity  o'i  Amhergreafe  hath 
been  found  on  the  Coaft  of  the  Ifland  Bemera, 
I  was  told  that  a  Weaver  in  this  Ifland  had 
burnt  a  lump  of  it,  to  fhow  him  a  Light  for 
the  moft  part  of  the  Night,  but  the  ilrong 
Scent  of  it  made  his  Head  ake  exceedmgly,  by 
which  it  was  difcover'd. 

A  N  antient  Woman,  about  fixty  Years  of 

age,  here   loft  her  Hearing  ;   and  having  no 

Phyfician  to  give  her  Advice,  fhe  would  needs 

C  4  try 


4©      ^Description  of  the 

try  an  experiment  her  felf,  which  was  thus : 
She  took  a  Quill  with  which  fhe  ordinarily 
fnuflied  her  Tobacco,  and  filling  it  with  the 
Powder  of  Tobacco,  pour'd  it  into  her  Ear ; 
which  had  the  defir'd  efFed,  for  (he  could 
hear  perfeftly  well  next  day.  Another  Neigh- 
bour about  the  fame  Age,  having  loft  her 
Hearing  fome  time  after,  recover'd  it  by  the 
fame  Experiment,  as  I  was  told  by  the  Na- 
tives. 

THE  Sheep  which  feed  here  on.  fandy 
Ground,  become  blind  fometimes,  and  are 
curM  by  rubbing  Chalk  in  their  Eyes. 

A  SERVANT  o^  Sir  Normo^d  Mackleod% 
living  in  the  Ifland  of  Bernera^  had  a  Mare 
that  brought  forth  a  Pole  with  both  the  hinder 
Feet  cloven,  which  died  about  a  Year  after  : 
the  Natives  concluded  that  it  was  a  bad  Omen 
to  the  Owner,  and  his  Death,  which  followed 
in  a  few  Years  after,  confirm^  them  in  their 
Opinion. 

THE  Natives  make  ufe  of  the  Seeds  of  a 
white  wild  Carrot,  inftead  of  Hops,  for  brew- 
ing their  Beer ;  and  they  fay  that  it  anfwers 
the  end  fuificiently  well,  and  gives  the  Drink 
a  good  Relifh  befides. 

'JOHN  CAMPBELL,  Forefter  of //^r- 
riesj  makes  ufe  of  this  fmgular  Remedy  for 


Weftem  IJlands  of  Scodmd.         41 

a  Cold  :  He  walks  into  the  Sea  up  to  the 
middle  with  his  Clothes  on,  and  immediately 
after  goes  to  bed  in  his  wet  Clothes,  and  then 
laying  the  Bed-clothes  over  him,  procures  a 
Sweat,  which  removes  the  Diftemper  ;  and 
this  he  told  me  is  his  only  Remedy  for  all  man- 
ner of  Colds.  One  of  the  faid  John  Camfbell'^s 
Servants  having  his  Cheek  fwelPd,  and  there 
being  no  Phyfician  near,  he  ask'd  his  Mailer's 
Advice  :  he  knew  nothing  proper  for  him,  but 
however  bid  him  apply  a  Plaifter  of  warm  Bar- 
ley-Dough to  the  place  affefted.  This  af- 
fuaged  the  Swelling,  and  drew  out  of  the  Flefh 
a  little  Worm,  about  half  an  inch  in  length, 
and  about  the  bignefs  of  a  Goofe-quill,  having 
a  pointed  Head,  and  many  little  Feet  on  each 
fide :  this  Worm  they  call  Fillari,  and  it  hath 
been  found  in  the  Head  and  Neck  of  feveral 
Perfons  that  I  have  feen  in  the  Ifle  of  Skie, 

JLLIVM  Latifolium^  a  kind  of  wild  Gar- 
licky is  much  ufed  by  fome  of  the  Natives,  as  a 
Remedy  againft  the  Stone  :  they  boil  it  in 
Water,  and  drink  the  Infufion,  and  it  expels 
Sand  powerfully  with  great  eafe. 

THE  Natives  told  me,  that  the  Rock  on 
the  Eaft-fide  of  Harries,  in  the  Sound  of  Ifland 
Glafs,  hath  a  Vacuity  near  the  Front,  on  the 
Northweft  fide  of  the  Sound  ;  in  which  they 
fay  there  is  a  Stone  that  they  call  the  L/^mr^ 
Sto/ie,  which  advances  and  retires  according  to 
thelncreafe  and  Decreafe  of  the  Moon. 

A 


42      ^Description  o/r^e 

A  POOR  Man  born  in  the  Village  Kon?^^7, 
commonly  call'd  St.  Clements-blind^  loft  his 
Sight  at  every  Change  of  the  Moon,  which 
oblig'd  him  to  keep  his  bed  for  a  day  or  two, 
and  then  he  recover'd  his  Sight. 

THE  inferiour  Iflands  belonging  to  HarrkSy 
are  as  follow :  The  Ifland  Bernera  is  five  miles 
in  Circumference,  and  lies  about  two  Leagues 
to  the  South  of  Harries.  The  Soil  is  fandy 
for  the  moft  part,  and  yields  a  great  ProduA 
of  Barley  and  Rye  in  a  plentiful  Year,  efpe- 
cially  if  the  Ground  be  enrich'd  by  Sea- ware, 
and  that  there  be  Rain  enough  to  fatisfy  the 
dry  Soil.  I  had  the  opportunity  to  travel 
this  Ifland  feveral  times,  and  upon  a  ftrift 
enquiry  I  found  the  Produd  of  Barley  to  be 
fometimes  twenty  fold  and  upwards,  and  at 
that  time  all  the  Eaft-fide  of  the  Ifland  pro- 
duc'd  thirty  fold.  This  hath  been  confirmed  to 
me  by  the  Natives,  particularly  by  Sir  Nor- 
mond  Mackleod,  who  polTeiTes  the  Ifland  :  he 
likewife  confirm'd  to  me  the  account  given 
by  all  the  Natives  of  Harries  and  Sotdth-Vifiy 
'viz..  that  one  Barley-Grain  produceth  in  fome 
places  7,  lo,  12,  and  14  Ears  of  Barley;  of 
which  he  himfelf  being  diffident  for  fome  time, 
was  at  the  pains  to  fearch  nicely  the  Root 
of  one  Grain  after  fome  Weeks  growth,  and 
found  that  from  this  one  Grain  many  Ears 
had  been  grown  up.  But  this  happens  not,  ex- 
cept 


Weftern  IJlands  of  Scotland.  4^ 

cept  when  the  Seafon  is  very  favourable,  or  in 
Grounds  that  have  not  been  cultivated  fome 
Years  before  ;  which  if  manur'd  with.  Sea-ware^ 
feldom  fail  to  produce  an  extraordinary  Crop. 
It  is  obferv'd  in  this  Ifland,  as  elfewhere,  that 
when  the  Ground  is  dug  up  with  Spades,  and 
the  Turfs  turn'd  upfide  down,  and  cover'd 
with  Sea- ware,  it  yields  a  better  Produd  than 
when  it  is  plow'd. 

THERE  is  a  frefli-water  Lake  in  this 
Ifland,  caird  Loch-Bruijl,  in  which  there  are 
fmall  Iflands  abounding  with  Land  and  Sea- 
Fowl,  which  build  there  in  the  Summer. 
There  is  hkewife  plenty  of  Eels  in  this  Lake, 
which  are  eafieft  caught  in  September ;  and  then 
the  Natives  carry  Lights  with  them  in  the 
Night-time  to  the  Rivulet  running  from  the 
Lake,  in  which  the  Eels  fall  down  to  the  Sea 
in  heaps  together. 

THIS  Ifland  in  the  Summer  is  coverM  all 
over  with  Clover  and  Dafy,  except  in  the 
Corn-fields.  There  is  to  be  feen  about  the 
Houfes  of  Bernera^  for  the  fpace  of  a  mile,  a 
fpft  Subfl:ance,  in  fhew  and  colour  exaftly 
refembling  the  Sea-plant,  calFd  SUke^  and 
grows  very  thick  among  the  Grafs.  The  Na- 
tives fay,  that  it  is  the  Produ8:  of  a  dry  hot 
Soil ;  it  grows  likewife  in  the  tops  of  feveral 
Hills  in  the  Ifland  of  Harries, 

IT'S 


44      ^  D  E  s  c  R I  p  T  I  o  N  o/  t/;^ 

IT'S  proper  to  add  here  an  Account  of  fe- 
veral  ftrange  Irregularities  in  the  Tides,  on 
Bernera  Coall,  by  Sir  Robert  Murra,y^  mention'd 
in  the  Phil,  Tranfa^ions. 

THE  Tides  increafe  and  decreafe  gradually, 
according  to  the  Moon's  Age,  fo  as  about  the 
third  day  after  the  new  and  full  Moon,  in  the 
Weftcrn  Ifles  and  Continent  they  are  common- 
ly at  the  higheft,  and  about  the  Qiiarter  Moons 
at  the  loweft :  (the  former  call'd  Spring- 
Tides,  the  other  Neap-Tides.)  The  Tides 
from  the  Quarter  to  the  higheft  Spring-Tide 
increafe  in  a  certain  proportion,  and  from  the 
Spring-Tide  to  the  Quarter-Tide  in  like  pro- 
portion :  and  the  Ebbs  rife  and  fall  always 
after  the  fame  manner. 

IT'S  fuppos'd  that  the  Increafe  of  Tides  is 
made  in  the  proportion  of  Sines :  the  firft  In- 
creafe exceeds  the  loweft  in  a  fmall  proportion, 
the  next  in  a  greater,  the  third  greater  than 
that,  and  fo  on  to  the  middle-moft,  whereof 
the  Excefs  is  the  greateft  ;  diminiftiing  again 
from  that  to  the  higheft  Spring-Tide,  fo  as  the 
Proportions  before  and  after  the  middle,  do 
anfwer  one  another.  And  likewife  from  the 
higheft  Spring-Tide  to  the  loweft  Neap-Tide, 
the  Decreafes  feem  to  keep  the  like  proportions : 
And  this  commonly  falls  out  when  no  Wind, 
or  other  Accident  caufes  an  alteration. ,    At  the 

beginning 


We  ft  em  Iflands  of  Scotland.       45 

beginning  of  each  Flood  on  the  Coaft,  the 
Tide  moves  fafter,  but  in  a  fmall  degree,  in- 
creafing  its  Swiftnefs  till  towards  the  middle 
of  the  Flood  ;  and  then  decreafmg  in  Swift- 
nefs again  from  the  middle  to  the  top  of  the 
High-water :  it's  fuppofed  that  the  inequal 
Spaces  of  Time,  the  Increafe  and  Decreafe  of 
Swiftnefs,  and  confequently  the  degrees  of  the 
Rifings  and  Fallings  of  the  fame  inequal  Spa- 
ces of  Time,  are  perform'd  according  to  the 
proportion  of  Sines.  The  proportion  cannot 
hold  precifely  and  exactly  in  regard  of  the  In- 
equalities that  fall  out  in  the  Periods  of  the 
Tides,  which  are  believM  to  follow  certain  Po- 
fitions  of  the  Moon  in  regard  of  the  Equinox, 
which  are  known  not  to  keep  a  precife  con- 
ftant  Courfe :  fo  that  there  not  being  equal 
Portions  of  Time  between  one  new  Moon  and 
another,  the  Moon's  Return  to  the  fame  Me- 
ridian cannot  be  always  perform'd  in  the  fame 
time.  -And  the  Tides  from  new  Moon  being 
not  always  the  fame  in  number,  or  fometimes 
but  57,  fometimes  $8,  fometimes  59,  (with- 
out any  certain  Order  or  SuccefTion)  is  another 
Evidence  of  the  difficulty  of  reducing  this  to 
any  great  Exadnefs. 

AT  the  Eafl:  end  of  this  Ifle,  there  is  a 
ftrange  Reciprocation  of  the  Flux  and  Reflux  of 
the  Sea.  There  is  another  no  lefs  remarkable 
upon  the  Well:  fide  of  the  Long  Illand  :  the 
Tides  which  come  from  the  South- weft,  run 

along 


4<5      .//Description  of  the 

along  the  Coa{l:  Northward  ;  fo  that  during 
the  ordinary  Courfe  of  the  Tides,  the  Flood 
runs  Eaft  in  the  Frith,  where  Berneray  lies, 
and  the  Ebb  Weft  :  and  thus  the  Sea  ebbs  and 
flows  orderly,  fome  four  days  before  the  Full 
and  Change,  and  as  long  after  ;  (the  ordinary 
Spring-Tides  rifing  fome  14  or  1 5  Toot  upright, 
and  all  the  reft  proportionably,  as  in  other 
places)  but  afterwards,  for  four  days  before 
the  Quarter  Moons,  and  as  long  after,  there  is 
conftantly  a  great  and  fingular  Variation.  For 
then  (a  Southerly  Moon  making  there  the  full 
Sea)  the  Courfe  of  the  Tide  being  Eaft  ward, 
when  it  begins  to  flow,  which  is  about  9  4  of 
the  clock,  it  not  only  continues  fo  about  ^  4. 
in  the  Afternoon,  that  it  be  High- water ;  but 
after  it  begins  to  ebb,  the  Current  runs  on  flill 
Eaft  ward  during  the  whole  Ebb  :  fo  that  it 
runs  Eaft  ward  12  hours  together,  that  is,  all 
daylong,  from  about  94  in  the  Morning  till 
about  9  :  at  Night.  But  then  when  the  Night- 
Tide  begins  to  flow,  the  Current  turns,  and 
runsWeftward  all  Night,  during  both  Flood 
and  Ebb,  for  fome  1 2  hours  more,  as  it  did 
Eaftward  the  day  before.  And  thus  the  Reci- 
procations continue,  one  Flood  and  Ebb  run- 
ning 1 2  hours  Eaftward,  and  another  1 2  hours 
Weft  ward,  till  4  days  before  the  Full  and  New 
Moon  ;  and  then  they  refume  their  ordinary 
regular  Courfe  as  before,  running  Eaft  during 
the  fix  hours  of  Flood,  and  Weft  during  the 
fix  of  Ebb. 

THERE 


Weflern  Ijlands  of  Scotland.        47 

THERE  is  another  extraordinary  Irregu- 
larity in  the  Tides,  which  never  fail :  That 
whereas  between  the  Vernal  and  Autumnal  E- 
quinox,  that  is,  for  fix  Months  together,  the 
Courfe  of  irregular  Tides  about  the  Quarter 
Moons,  is  to  run  all  day,  1 2  hours,  as  from  a- 
bout  9  4.  to  91  or  10,  exa6l  Eaftward  ;  all  night, 
that  is,  1 2  hours  more,  Weftward  :  during  the 
other  fix  Months,  from  the  Autumnal  to  the 
Vernal  Equinox,  the  Current  runs  all  day  Weft- 
ward,  and  all  night  Eaftward.  I  have  obferv'd 
the  Tides  as  above,  for  the  fpace  of  fome  days 
both  in  Afril^  May,  July,  and  Augufi.  The  Na- 
tives have  frequent  opportunities  to  fee  this 
both  day  and  night,  and  they  all  agree  that 
the  Tides  run  as  mention'd  above. 

THERE'S  a  Couple  of  Ravens  in  this 
Ifland,  which  beat  away  all  ravenous  Fowls, 
and  when  their  Young  are  able  to  fly  abroad, 
they  beat  them  alfo  out  of  the  Ifland,  but  not 
without  many  blows,  and  a  great  noife. 

THERE  are  two  Chappels  in  thislfle,  to 
wit,  St.  Jfaphh  and  St.  Columbus's  Chappel. 
There  is  a  Stone  erefted  near  the  former,  which 
is  eight  foot  high,  and  two  foot  thick. 

ABOUT  half  a  League  from  Bernera,  to 
the  Weftward,  lies  the  Ifland  Pabhay,  ^  miles 
in   Circumference,   and  having  a   Mountain 
in  the  middle.     The  Soil  is  fandy,  and  fruit- 
ful 


48        ^  D  E  S  C  R  !  P  T  I O  N   o/  J;^ 

ful  In  Corn  and  Grafs,  and  the  Natives  have 
lately  difcoverM  here  a  white  Marble.  The 
Weft  end  of  this  Ifland,  which  looks  to  St.  KJl- 
dAy  is  caird  the  Wooden  Harbour,  becaufe  the 
Sands  at  Low- Water  difcover  feveral  Trees 
that  have  formerly  grown  there.  Sir  Normond 
Macklead  told  me,  that  he  had  feen  a  Tree  cut 
there,  which  was  afterwards  ^rnade  into  a 
Harrow. 

THERE  are  two  Chappels  in  this  Ifland, 
one  of  which  is  dedicated  to  the  Virgin  Marj, 
the  other  to  St.  Muluag, 

THE  Steward  of  KjUa^  who  lives  in  Tab- 
ifaj,  isaccuftom'd  in  time  of  a  Storm  to  tie  a 
bundle  of  Puddings,  made  of  the  Fat  of  Sea- 
Fowl,  to  the  end  of  his  Cable,  and  lets  it  fall 
into  the  Sea  behind  the  Rudder  :  this,  he  fays, 
hinders  the  Waves  from  breaking,  and  calms 
the  Sea  ;  but  the  Scent  of  the  Greafe  attrads 
the  Whales,  which  put  the  Veffel  in  danger. 

ABOUT  half  a  League  to  the  North  of 
Pabbaj,  lies  the  Ille  Sellay,  a  Mile  in  Circum- 
ference, that  yields  extraordinary  Pafturage 
for  Sheep,  fo  that  they  become  fat  very  foon  ; 
they  have  the  biggeft  Horns  that  ever  I  faw 
on  Sheep. 

.  ABOUT  a  League  farther  to  the  North, 
lies  the  IileT/tr^;2/^?j,  very  fruitful  in  Corn  and 

Grafs, 


Weflern  Iflamls  of  Scotland.  49 

Grafs,  and  yields  much  yellow  Talk.  It  is 
^  Miles  in  Circumference,  and  has  two  Chap- 
pels,  one  dedicated  to  St.  Tarrmy  the  other  to 
St.  Kjtth. 

THERE  is  an  antient  Tradition  among 
the  Nativ^es  here,  that  a  Man  muft  not  be 
bury'd  in  St.  Tanari\  nor  a  Woman  in  St. 
KfitPs,  becaufe  otherwife  the  Corps  w^ould 
be  found  above-ground  the  day  after  it  is  in- 
terred. I  told  them  this  was  a  moll  ridicu- 
lous Fancy,  which  they  might  foon  perceive  by 
experience,  if  they  would  but  put  it  to  a 
tryal.  Roderick  Campi^eli,  who  refides  there, 
being  of  my  opinion,  refolved  to  embrace  the 
firil  opportunity  that  offer'd,  in  order  to  un- 
deceive the  credulous  Vulgar  ;  and  according- 
ly a  poor  Man  in  this  Ifland,  who  died  a  Year 
after,  was  bury'd  in  St.  Tarra^'^s  Chappel,  con- 
trary to  the  antient  Cuftom  and  Tradition  of 
this  place,  but  his  Corps  is  frill  in  the  Grave, 
from  whence  it  is  not  like  to  rife  until  the  ge^ 
neral  Refurreftion.  This  Inftance  has  ddi- 
ver'd  the  credulous  Natives  from  this  unrea- 
fonable  Fancy.  This  Ifland  is  a  mi'e  dilfant 
from  the  main  Land  of  Harries,  and  when  the 
Inhabitants  go  from  this  Ifland  toHarruywith 
a  defjgn  to  ftay  for  any  time,  they  agree  with 
thofe  that  carry  them  over,  on  a  particular 
motion  of  walking  upon  a  certain  piece  of 
Ground,  unknown  to  every  body  but  them- 
felves,  as  a  Signal  to  brmg  'em  back. 

D  THREE 


JO        ^  Descriptio  N  0/ i/?e 

THREE  Leagues  to  the  Weft  ward  of  this 
Ifland,  lies  Gaskevj  about  half  a  mile  in  Cir- 
cumference :  it  excels  any  other  Plot  of  its 
extent,  for  Fruitfulnefs-in  Grafs  and  Produ£l 
of  Milk ;  it  maintains  8  or  i  o  Cows.  The 
Natives  kill  Seals  here,  which  are  very  big. 

ABOUT  two  Leagues  farther  North  lies 
the  Ifland  Scarp,  two  miles  in  Circumference, 
and  is  a  high  Land  cover'd  with  Heath  and 
Grafs. 

BETWEEN  Bemera  and  the  main  Land 
of  Harries  lies  the  Ifland  Enfay,  which  is  above 
two  miles  in  Circumference,  and  for  the  moft 
part  arable  Ground,  which  is  fruitful  in  Corn 
and  Grafs :  there  is  an  old  Chappel  here,  for 
the  ufe  of  the  Natives ;  and  there  was  lately 
difcover'd  a  Grave  in  the  Weft  end  of  the  Ifland, 
in  which  was  found  a  pair  of  Scales  made  of 
Brafs,  and  a  little  Hammer,  both  which  were 
finely  polifli'd. 

BETWEEN  Enfxy  and  the  main  Land  of 
Harries,  lie  feveral  fmall  Iflands,  fitter  for  Paf- 
turage  than  Cultivation. 

THE  little  \{[2ind  Quedam  hath  a  Vein  of 
Adamant  Stone,  in  the  front  of  the  Rock.  The 
Natives  fay  that  Mice  don't  live  in  this  Ifland, 
and  when  they  chance  to  be  carry'd  thither 

among 


Weftern  JJlands  of  Scotland.         j  ( 

among  Corn,  they  die  quickly  after.  Without 
thefe  fmall  Iflands,  there  is  a  TraO:  of  fmall 
Ifles  in  the  fame  Line  with  the  Eaft  fide  of  the 
Harries  and  North-Vifi :  they  are  in  all  refpeds 
of  the  fame  nature  with  thofe  two  Iflands,  {o 
that  the  fight  of  them  is  apt  to  difpofe  one  to 
think  that  they  have  been  once  united  together. 

THE  moft  Southerly  of  thefe  Iflands,  and 
the  nearefl:  to  North-Vifi  is  Her  me  tr  a,  two  miles 
m  Circumference  :  it  is  a  mooriih  Soil,  co- 
ver'd  all  over  almofl:  with  Heath,  except  here 
and  there  a  few  Piles  of  Grafs,  and  the  Plant 
Milk- wort  ;  yet  notwithfl:anding  this  difad- 
vantage,  it  is  certainly  the  befl:  Spot  of  its 
extent,  for  Paft;urage,  among  thefe  Ifles,  and 
affords  great  plenty  of  Milk  in  January  and  f>- 
hruary  beyond  what  can  be  feen  in  tne  other 
Iflands. 

I  SAW  here  the  Foundation  of  a  Houfe 
built  by  the  Engltfh^  in  K.  Charles  the  Firfl:'s 
time,  for  one  of  their  Magazines  to  lay  up  the 
Cask,  Salt,  &c,  for  carrying  on  the  Fifliery, 
which  was  then  begun  in  the  Weflern  Iflands  ; 
but  this  Defign  milcarry'd  becaufe  of  the  Civil 
Wars,  which  then  broke  out. 

THE  Channel  between  Harries  and  North' 

Vtfty  is  above  three  Leagues  in  breadth,  and 

abounds  with  Rocks,  as  well  under  as  above 

Water :  tho  at  the  fame  time  VeHels  of  ^oo 

D  2  Tuns 


51        ^Description  of  the 

Tuns  have  gone  through  it,  from  Eaft  to  "Weft, 
having  the  advantage  of  one  of  the  Natives 
for  a  Pilot.  Some  i6  Years  ago,  one  Captain 
Frofi  \v3.s  fafely  conduQied  in  this  manner. 
The  Harries  belongs  in  Property  to  the  Laird 
of  Mackleod  :  he  and  all  the  Inhabitants  are 
Proteftants,  and  obferve  the  Feft ivals  of  Chrip- 
7?^asy  Good-Friday,  and  St.  MichaePs  Day ;  upon 
the  latter,  they  rendezvous  on  horfe-back,  and 
make  their  Cavalcade  on  the  Sands  at  low 
Water. 

THE  Ifland  of  AV/^-F//  lies  about  three 
Leagues  to  the  South  of  the  Ifland  of  Harries^ 
being  in  form  of  a  Semicircle,  the  Diameter 
of  wiiich  looks  to  the  Eaft,  and  is  mountainous 
and  full  of  Heath,  and  fitter  for  Pafturage  than 
Cultivation.  The  Weft  fide  is  of  a  quite  dif- 
ferent Soil,  arable  and  plain :  the  whole  is  in 
length  from  South  to  North  nine  miles,  and 
about  thirty  in  Circumference. 

T  H  E  R  E  are  four  Mountains  in  the  mid- 
dle, two  lie  within  lefs  than  a  mile  of  each 
other,  and  are  call'd  South  and  North-Lee.  All 
the  Hills  and  Heath  afford  good  Pafturage,  tho 
it  confifts  as  much  of  Heath  as  Grafs.  The 
arable  Ground  hath  a  mixture  of  Clay  in  fome 
places,  and  it  is  cover'd  all  over  in  Summer- 
time and  Harveft  with  Clover,  Dafy,  and 
v^iety  of  other  Plants,  pleafant  to  the  Sight, 
an,d  of  a  very  fragrant  Smell;  and  abounds 

with 


WeftevH  IjTnnds  of  Scotland.         55 

with  black  Cattle  and  Sheep.  The  Soil  is  very 
grateful  to  the  Husbandman,  yielding  a  Pro- 
duce of  Barley,  from  ten  to  thirty  fold  in  a 
plentiful  Year  ;  provided  the  Ground  be  ma- 
iiur'd  with  Sea-ware,  and  that  it  have  Rain 
proportionable  to  the  Soil.  I  have  upon  feveral 
occafions  enquired  conce'rning  the  Produce  of 
Barley,  in  this  and  the  neighbouring  Iflands ; 
the  fame  being  much  doubted  in  the  South  of 
Scotland,  as  well  as  in  England :  and  upon  the 
whole,  I  have  been  ailur'd  by  the  moll  an- 
tientand  induftrious  of  the  Natives,  that  the 
Increafe  is  the  fame  as  mention'd  before  in 
Harries, 

THEY  told  me  likewife,  that  a  Plot  of 
Ground  which  hath  lain  unmanur'd  for  fome 
Years,  would  in  a  plentiful  feafon  produce 
fourteen  Ears  of  Barley  from  one  Grain  ;  and 
feveral  Ridges  were  then  fhew'd  me  of  this 
extraordinary  Growth  in  different  places.  The 
Grain  fown  here  is  Barley,  Oats,  Rye  ;  and 
it's  not  to  be  doubted  but  the  Soil  would  alfo 
produce  Wheat.  The  way  of  Tillage  here  is 
commonly  by  ploughing,  and  fome  by  digging. 
The  ordinary  Plough  is  drawn  by  four  Horfes, 
and  they  have  a  little  Plough  alfo  calFd  Riif  le, 
/.  e.  a  thing  that  cleaves,  the  Culter  of  which 
is  in  form  of  a  Sickle ;  and  it  is  drawn  fome- 
times  by  one,  and  fometim.es  by  two  Borfes, 
according  as  the  Ground  is.'  The  Defign  of 
this  little  Plough  is  to  draw  a  deep  Line  m 
D  ^  the 


54      ^Description  of  the 

the  Ground,  to  make  it  the  more  eafy  for  the 
big  Plough  to  follow,  which  other  wife  would 
be  much  retarded  by  the  ftrong  Roots  of  Bent 
lying  deep  in  the  Ground,  that  are  cut  by  the 
little  Plough.  When  they  dig  with  Spades,  it 
produceth  more  Increafe :  the  little  Plough  is 
like  wife  ufed  to  facilitate  digging  as  well  as 
ploughing.  They  continue  to  manure  the 
Ground  until  the  tenth  of  Ju/te,  if  they  have 
plenty  of  Braggir,  i.  e.  the  broad  Leaves  grow- 
ing on  the  top  of  the  Algn-Marina, 

ABOUT  a  League  and  a  half  to  the  South 
of  the  Ifland  Hermetra.  in  Harries^  lies  Loch- 
Maddy^  fo  calPd  from  the  three  Rocks  without 
the  Entry  on  the  South  fide.  They  are  calPd 
Maddies,  from  the  great  quantity  of  big  Muf- 
cles,  caird  Maddies,  that  grows  upon  them. 
This  Harbour  is  capacious  enough  for  fome 
hundreds  of  Veffels  of  any  Burden  :  it  hath 
feveral  Ifles  within  it,  and  they  contribute  to 
the  Security  of  the  Harbour,  for  a  VelTel  may 
fafely  come  clofe  to  the  Key.  The  Seamen 
divide  the  Harbour  in  two  parts,  calling  the 
South  fide  Loch-Maddj,  and  the  North  fide 
Loch-PartaK.  1  here  is  one  Ifland  in  the  South 
Loch^  which  for  its  Commodioufnefs  is  by  the 
EngUjh  caird  Nonfuch,  This  Loch  hath  been 
famous  for  the  great  quantity  of  Herrings 
yearly  taken  in  it  within  thefe  fifty  Years  laft 
pall:.  The  Nauves  told  me,  that  in  the  me- 
mory of  fome  yet  alive,  there  had  been  ^oo 

Sail 


iVeftern  IJlands  of  Scotland.         ^j 

Sail  loaded  in  it  with  Herrings  at  one  Seafon  ; 
but  it  is  not  now  frequented  for  Fifhing,  tho 
the  Herrings  do  ftill  abound  in.  it :  and  on  tliis 
Coaft  every  Summer  and  Harveft,  the  Natives 
fit  angling  on  the  Rocks,  and  as  they  pull  up 
their  Hooks,  do  many  times  bring  up  Herrings. 
That  they  are  always  on  the  Coaft,  appears 
from  the  Birds,  Whales,  and  other  Fifhes, 
that  are  their  Forerunners  every  where  ;  and 
yet  it  is  ftrange,  that  in  all  this  If  land  there 
is  not  one  Herring-Net  to  be  had  :  but  if  the 
Natives  faw  any  Encouragement,  they  could 
foon  provide  'em.  Cod,  Ling,  and  all  forts 
of  Firti  taken  in  thefe  Iflands,  abound  in  and 
about  this  Lake. 

IN  this  Harbour  there  is  a  fmall  Ifland 
call'd  Fackfaj,  in  which  there  is  ftill  to  be  feen 
the  Foundation  of  a  Houfe,  built  by  the  Er/g* 
Ifjb,  for  a  Magazine  to  keep  their  Cask,  Salt, 
&c,  for  carrying  on  a  great  Fifhery  which  was 
then  begun  there.  The  Natives  told  me,  that 
KingCharles  the  Firft  had  a  fhare  in  it.  This 
Lake,  with  the  Convenience  of  its  Fiihings  and 
Iflands,  is  certainly  capable  of  great  Improve- 
ment :  much  of  the  Ground  about  the  Bay  is 
capable  of  Cultivation,  and  affords  a  great  deal 
of  Fuel,  as  Turff,  Peats,  and  plenty  of  frefh 
Water.  It  alfo  affords  a  good  quantity  of 
Oyfters,  and  Clam-fhell-iifh  ;  the  former  grow 
on  Rocks,  and  are  fo  big  that  they  are  cut  in 
four  pieces  before  they  are  eat. 

D  4  ABOUT 


5  6      o^  D  E  s  c  R I  p  T 1  o  N  of  the 

ABOUT  half  a  mile  further  South  is  Loch" 
Epon,  having  a  Rock  without  the  Mouth  of 
the  Entry,  which  is  narrow  :  the  Lake  pene- 
trates fome  miles  towards  the  Weft,  and  is  a 
good  Harbour,  having  feveral  fmall  Ifles  with- 
in it.  The  Seals  are  very  numerous  here.  In 
the  Month  of  July  the  Spring-Tides  carry  in  a 
great  quantity  of  Mackrel,  and  at  the  return 
of  the  Water  they  are  found  many  times  lying 
on  the  Rocks.  The  vulgar  Natives  make  ufe 
of  the  Allies  of  burnt  Sea-ware,  which  pre- 
ferves  them  for  fome  time  inftead  of  Salt. 

•  A  B  OUT  two  miles  to  the  South  of  Loch" 
Eporf  lies  the  Bay  calFd  the  Ky^e  of  Ro^a  ; 
having  the  Ifland  of  that  name  (which  is  a  ht- 
tle  Hill)  within  the  Bay  :  there  is  a  Harbour 
on  each  fide  of  it.  This  Place  hath  been  found 
of  great  convenience  for  the  fifliing  of  Cod 
and  Ling,  which  abound  on  this  Coalt.  There 
is  a  little  Chappel  in  the  Ifland  Ro^a,  call'd 
the  Low-landers  Chappel,  becaufe  Seamen  who 
^ic  in  time  of  fiibing,  are  bury'd  in  that 
place, 

THERE  is  a  Harbour  on  the  South  fide 
the  Ifland  Bonra  ;  the  Entry  feems  to  be  nar- 
rower than  really  it  is :  the  Ifland  and  the  op- 
poflte  Point  of  Land  appear  like  two  little  Pro- 
montoi-ies  off  at  Sea.  Some  Veifels  have  been 
forc'd  in  there  by  Storm,  as  \vas  Captain  Fe^ 

ters 


Wcflcm  IJlands  of  Scotland.  ^7 

ters  a  Dutch  Man,  and  after  him  an  EngUfb 
Ship,  who  both  approv'd  of  this  Harbour. 
The  former  built  a  Cock-bOat  there  on  a  Sun- 
day, at  which  the  Natives  were  much  offen- 
ded :  The  latter  having  landed  in  the  Iflai^., 
happened  to  come  into  a  Houfe  where  he  found 
only  ten  Women,  and  they  were  employed 
(as  he  fuppos'd)  in  a  ftrange  manner,  'viz.  their- 
Arms  and  Legs  Were  bare,  being  five  on  a 
fide;  and  between  them  lay  a  Board,  upon 
which  they  had  laid  a  piece  of  Cloth,  and  were 
thickning  of  it  with  their  Hands  and  Feet, 
and  Tinging  all  the  while.  The  £«^/.^>man 
prefently  concluded  it  to  be  a  little  Bedlam, 
which  he  did  not  expect  in  fo  remote  a  Corner  : 
and  this  he  told  to  Mr.  Jolm  Macklean^  who 
poiTefTes  the  Illand.  Mr.  Macklem  anfwer'd, 
he  never  faw  any  mad  People  in  thofe  lilands  : 
but  this  would  not  fatisfy  him,  till  they  both 
went  to  the  place  where  the  Women  were  at 
work  ;  and  then  Mr.  MackleMi  having  told  him, 
that  it  was  their  common  way  of  thickning 
Cloth,  he  was  convinc'd,  tho  furprizM  at  the 
manner  of  it. 

THERE  is  fuch  a  number  of  freflv water 
Lakes  here,  a^  can  hardly  be  believed  :  I  my 
felf  and  feveral  others  endeavoured  to  number 
them,  but  in  vain,  for  they  are  fo  difposM  into 
turnings,  that  it  is  impracficable.  They  are 
generally  well  ftock'd  with  Trouts  and  Eels, 
and  fome  of  'em  with  Salmon  j  and  which  is 

yet 


jS      ^Description  of  the 

yet  more  ftrange,  Cod,  Ling,  Mackrel,  &c, 
are  taken  in  thefe  Lakes,  into  which  they  are 
brought  by  the  Spring-Tides. 

THESE  Lakes  have  many  fmall  Illands, 
which  in  Summer  abound  with  variety  of  Land 
and  Sea-Fowls,  that  build  and  hatch  there. 
There  be  alfo  feveral  Rivers  here,  which  afford 
Salmon  :  one  fort  of  them  is  very  Angular,  that 
is  caird  Marled  Salmon,  or,  as  the  Natives  call 
it,  leskdruimin^  being  lefTer  than  the  ordinary 
Salmon,  and  full  of  ftrong  large  Scales ;  no  Bait 
can  allure  it,  and  a  Shadow  frights  it  away, 
being  the  wildeft  of  Fifhes  :  it  leaps  high  above 
water,  and  delights  to  be  in  the  Surface  of  it. 

there's  great  plenty  of  Shell-fifh  round 
this  Ifland,  more  particularly  Cockles:  the 
Iflands  do  alfo  afford  many  fmall  Fifh  call'd 
Eels,  of  a  whitifh  colour  ;  they  are  picked  out 
of  the  Sand  with  a  fmall  crooked  Iron  made  on 
purpofe.  There  is  plenty  of  Lobflers  on  the 
Weft  fide  of  this  Ifland,  and  one  fort  bigger  than 
the  reft,  having  the  Toe  fhorter  and  broader. 

there  are  feveral  antient  Forts  in  this 
Ifland,  built  upon  Eminences,  or  in  the  middle 
of  frefh- water  Lakes. 

HE  RE  are  likewife  feveral  Kairns  or  Heaps 
of  Stones  ;  the  biggeft  I  obferv'd  was  on  a  Hill 
near  to  Loch-E^oru    There  are  three  Stones 

e  reded 


Wejiern  Iflands  of  Scotland.         59 

ere£led  about  five  foot  high,  at  the  diftance  of 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  one  another,  on  Emi- 
nences about  a  mile  from  Locb-Maddj^  to  amufe 
Invaders  ;  for  w^hich  r€afon  they  are  ftill  call'd 
falfe  Sentinels. 

THERE  is  a  Stone  of  24  foot  long  and  4  in 
breadth  in  the  Hill  Crinived :  the  Natives  fay, 
a  Giant  of  a  Month  old  vi'as  bury'd  under  it. 
There  is  a  very  confpicuous  Stone  in  the  face  of 
the  Hill  above  St.  Peter'^s  Village,  above  eight 
foot  high. 

THERE  is  another  about  eight  foot  high 
at  Down-rojfel,  vj\\\c\\  the  Natives  call  a  Crols. 
There  are  two  broad  Stones  about  eight  foot 
high,  on  the  Hill  two  miles  to  the  South  of 

Vday. 

THERE  is  another  at  the  Key,  oppofite 
to  KJrkibaft^  1 2  foot  high  :  the  Natives  fay  that 
Delinquents  were  ty'd  to  this  Stone  in  time  of 
Divine  Service. 

THERE  is  a  Stone  in  form  of  a  Crofs  in 
the  Row,  oppofite  to  St.  Marfs  Church,  about 
5  foot  high :  the  Natives  call  it  the  Water- 
Crofs,  for  the  antient  Inhabitants  had  a  Cuftom 
of  erecting  this  fort  of  Crofs  to  procure  Rain, 
and  when  they  had  got  enough,  they  laid  it  flat 
on  the  ground,  but  this  Cuftom  is  now  difufed. 
The  inferiour  llland  is  the  Illand  of  Heiskir^ 

which 


6o      yf  Desckivtio  N  of  the 

which  lies  near  three  Leagues  Weft  ward  of 
North-Fifty  is  three  miles  in  Circumference,  of 
a  fandy  Soil,  and  very  fruitful  in  Corn  and 
Grafs,  and  black  Cattle.  The  Inhabitants  la- 
bour under  want  of  Fuel  of  all  forts,  which 
obliges  them  to  burn  Cows-Dung,  Barley-ftraw, 
and  dry'd  Sea- ware :  the  Natives  told  me,  that 
Bread  baked  by  the  Fuel  of  Sea-ware,  relifhes 
better  than  that  done  otherwife.  They  are  ac  • 
cuftom'd  to  fait  their  Cheefe  with  the  Afhes  of 
Barley-ftraw,  which  they  fuffer  not  to  lie  on  it 
above  1 2  hours  time,  becaufe  otherwife  it  would 
fpoil  it.  There  was  a  Stone-Cheft  lately  dif- 
cover'd  here,  having  an  earthen  Pitcher  in  it 
which  was  full  of  Bones,  and  as  foon  as  touch'd 
they  turn'd  to  Duft. 

THERE  are  two  fmall  Iflands  feparated 
by  narrow  Channels  from  the  North  weft  of 
this  Ifland,  and  are  of  the  fame  Mould  with 
the  big  lOand.  The  Natives  fay,  that  there  is 
a  Couple  of  Ravtus  there,  which  fuffer  no  other 
of  their  Kind  to  approach  this  Ifland,  and  if  any 
fuch  chance  to  come,  this  Couple  immediately 
drive  them  away,  with  fuch  a  noife  as  is  heard 
by  all  the  Inhabitants ;  they  are  obferv'd  like- 
wife  to  beat  away  their  Young  as  foon  as  they 
be  able  to  purchafe  for  themfelves.  The  Na- 
tives told  me,  that  when  one  of  this  Couple  hap- 
pen'd  to  be  wounded  by  Guii-fhot,  it  lay  ftill 
in  the  corner  of  a  Rock  for  a  week  or  two,  du- 
ring which  time  its  Mate  brouglit  Provifion  to 

it 


Wcjlern  IJlands  of  Scotland.        6i 

it  daily,  until  it  recover'd  peife6lly.  The  Na- 
tives add  further,  that  one  of  thefe  two  Ravens 
having  died  fome  time  after,  the  furviving  one 
abandoned  the  Ifland  for  a  few  days,  and  then 
was  feen  to  return  with  about  ten  or  twelve 
more  of  its  kind,  and  having  chofen  a  Mate  out 
of  this  number,  all  the  reft  went  quite  off,  leav- 
ing thefe  two  in  poflellion  of  their  little  King- 
dom. They  do  by  a  certain  Sagacity  difcover 
to  the  Inhabitants  any  Carcafe,  on  the  Shore  or 
in  the  Fields,  whereof  I  have  ken  feveral  In- 
llances:  the  Inhabitants  pretend  to  know  by 
their  noife,  whether  it  be  Flefli  or  Fifh.  I  told 
them,  this  was  fuch  a  Nicety  that  I  could 
fcarcely  give  it  credit  ;  but  they  anfwer'd  me, 
that  they  came  to  the  knowledg  of  it  by  Obfer- 
vation,  and  that  they  make  their  loudcii:  noife 
for  Flefh.  There  is  a  narrow  Channel  between 
the  Ifland  of  Heisker  and  one  of  the  leffer  Iflands, 
in  which  the  Natives  formerly  kilPd  many 
Seals,  in  this  manner  :  They  twilled  together 
feveral  fmall  Ropes  of  Horfe-halr  in  form  of  a 
Net,  contracted  at  one  end  like  a  Purfe ;  and  fo 
by  opening  and  fhutting  this  Hair-Net,  thefe 
Seals  were  catch'd  in  the  narrow  Channel.  On 
the  South  fide  of  North-Vifi  are  the  Iflands  of 
llleray,  which  are  acceffible  at  I9W  Water ;  each 
of  them  being  three  miles  in  compafs,  and 
very  fertile  in  Corn  and  Cattle. 

O  N  the  Weftern  Coail:  of  this  Ifland  lies 
the  Rock  Eoufmil^  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile 

in 


6z      ^Description  of  the 

m  Circumference,  and  it  is  ftill  famous  for  the 
yearly  fifhing  of  Seals  there,  in  the  end  of 
October.  This  Rock  belongs  to  the  Farmers  of 
the  next  adjacent  Lands  :  there  is  one  who  fur- 
nifheth  a  Boat,  to  whom  there  is  a  particular 
fhare  due  on  that  account,  befides  his  Propor- 
tion as  Tenant.  The  Parifli-Minifter  hath  his 
choice  of  all  the  young  Seals,  and  that  which 
he  takes  is  call'd  by  the  Natives,  Culkn-Mory^ 
that  is,  the  Virgin  Mar/s  Seal.  The  Steward 
of  the  Ifland  hath  one  paid  to  him,  his  Officer 
hath  another,  and  this  by  virtue  of  their  Offi- 
ces. Thefe  Farmers  man  their  Boat  with  a 
competent  number  fit  for  the  bufmefs,  and  they 
always  imbark  with  a  contrary  Wind,  for  their 
fecurity  againft  being  driven  away  by  the 
Ocean,  and  likewife  to  prevent  them  from  being 
difcover'd  by  the  Seals,  who  are  apt  to  fmell 
the  Scent  of  them,  and  prefently  run  to  Sea. 

WHEN  this  Crew  is  quietly  landed,  they 
furround  the  Paffes,  and  then  the  Signal  for  the 
general  Attack  is  given  from  the  Boat,  and 
fo  they  beat  them  down  with  big  Staves.  The 
Seals  at  this  Onfet  make  towards  the  Sea  with 
all  fpeed,  and  often  force  their  Paflage  over  the 
necks  of  the  ftouteft  Affailants,  who  aim  always 
at  the  Forehead  of  the  Seals,  giving  many  blows 
before  they  be  kill'd  ;  and  li  they  be  not  hit 
exaftly  on  the  front,  they  contrad  a  Lump  on 
their  Forehead,  which  makes  them  look  very 
fierce  \  and  ii  they  get  hold  of  the  Staff  with 

their 


Weftern  JJlands  of  Scotland.        6; 

their  Teeth,  they  carry  it  along  to  Sea  with 
them.  Thofe  that  are  in  the  Boat  fhoot  at 
them  as  they  run  to  Sea,  but  few  are  catch'd 
that  way.  The  Natives  told  me,  that  feveral 
of  the  biggeft  Seals  lofe  their  Lives  by  endea- 
vouring to  fave  their  young  ones,  whom  they 
tumble  before  them  towards  the  Sea.  I  was 
told  alfo,  that  ^20  Seals,  young  and  old,  have 
been  kill'd  at  one  time  in  this  place.  The  rea- 
fon  of  attacking 'em  in  0(^o^fr,  is,  becaufe  in 
the  beginning  of  this  Month  the  Seals  bring 
forth  their  Young  on  the  Ocean  fide  ;  but  thefe 
on  the  Eaft  fide,  who  are  of  the  lelTer  fl:ature, 
bring   forth  their  Young  in  the  middle   of 


THE  Seals  eat  no Fifh  till  they  firfi:  take  off 
the  Skin  :  they  hold  the  Head  of  the  Fifh  be- 
tween their  Teeth,  and  pluck  the  Skin  off  each 
fide  with  their  fharp-pointed  Nails ;  this  I  ob- 
ferv'd  feveral  times.  The  Natives  told  me, 
that  the  Seals  are  regularly  coupled,  and  refent 
an  Encroachment  on  their  Mates  at  an  ex- 
traordinary rate :  The  Natives  have  obferv'd, 
that  when  a  Male  had  invaded  a  Female,  al- 
ready coupled  to  another,  the  injur'd  Male, 
upon  its  Return  to  its  Mate,  would  by  a  fl:range 
Sagacity  find  it  out,  and  refent  it  againfl:  the 
AggrelTor  by  a  bloody  Conflift,  which  gives  a 
red  Tinfture  to  the  Sea  in  that  part  where  they 
fight.  This  piece  of  Revenge  has  been  often 
obferv'd  by  Seal-Hunters,  and  many  others  of 

un- 


^4      ^  De  SCR  iPTiON  of  the 

unqueftionable  Integrity,  whofe  OccafionS  ob-^ 
ligM  them  to  be  much  on  this  Coall:.  I  was 
aitur'd  by  good  hands,  that  the  Seals  make  their 
AddreiTes  to  each  other  by  KilTes :  this  hath 
been  obferv'd  often  by  Men  and  Women,  as 
filhing  on  the  Coall  in  a  clear  Day.  The  Fe- 
male puts  away  its  Young  from  fucking,  as  foon 
as  it  is  able  to  provide  for  it  felf ;  and  this  is 
not  done  without  many  fevere  Blows. 

THERE  is  a  Hole  in  the  Skin  of  the  Fe- 
male, within  which  the  Teats  arefecured  from 
being  hurt,  as  it  creeps  along  the  Rocks  and 
Stones  ;  for  which*  caufe,  Nature  hath  form'd 
the  Point  of  the  Tongue  of  the  young  one  clo- 
ven, without  which  it  could  not  fuck. 

THE  Natives  fait  the  Seals  with  the  Aflies 
of  burnt  Sea-ware,  and  fay  they  are  good  Food  : 
the  Vulgar  eat  them  commonly  in  the  Spring- 
time with  a  long  pointed  Stick  inftead  of  a 
Fork,  to  prevent  the  ftrong  Smell  which  their 
hands  would  otherwife  have  for  feveral  hours 
after.  The  Fielli  and  Broth  of  frelh  young 
Seals  is  by  experience  known  to  be  perioral ; 
the  Meat  is  ailringent,  and  ufed  as  an  effeftual 
Remedy  againfl:  the  Diarrhea  and  Dyfente- 
ria  :  the  Liver  of  a  Seal  being  dry'd  and  pul- 
verized, and  afterwards  a  little  of  it  drunk 
with  Milk,  Aquavkx^  or  red  Wine,  is  alfo 
good  agaiall  Fluxes. 

SOME 


Weft  em  Jflands  of  Scotland.         6') 

SOME  of  the  Natives  wear  a  Girdle  of  the 
Seal-Skin  about  the  middle,  for  removing  the 
Scia_tica,  as  thofe  of  the  Shire  oi  Aberdeen  wear 
it  to  remove  the  Chin-cough.  This  four- 
footed  Creature  is  reckoned  one  of  the  fwifceil 
la  the  Sea ;  they  fay  likewife,  that  it  leaps  in 
cold  Weather  the  height  of  a  Pike  above  wa- 
ter, and  that  the  Skin  of  it  is  whice  in  Sum- 
mer, and  darker  in  Winter  ;  and  that  their 
Hair  flands  on  end  with  the  Flood,  and  falls 
again  at  the  Ebb.  The  Skin  is  by  the  Natives 
cut  in  long  pieces,  and  then  made  ufe  of  inftead 
of  Ropes  to  fix  the  Plough  to  their  Horfes, 
when  they  till  the  Ground.    ► 

THE  Seal,  tho  efteem'd  fit  only  for  the 
Vulgar,  is  alfo  eaten  by  Perfons  of  Dill:in£lion, 
tho  under  a  different  Name,  to  wit,  Hamm : 
this  I  have  been  alTur'd  of  by  good  hands,  and 
thus  we  fee  that  the  generality  of  Men  are  as 
much  led  by  Fancy  as  Judgment  in  their  Pa- 
lates, as  well  as  in  other  things*  The  Popifh 
Vulgar,  in  the  Illands  Southward  from  this,  eat 
thefe  Seals  in  Le^f  inilead  of  Fifh.  This  occa- 
fion'd  a  Debate  between  a  Pro'-eftant  Gentle- 
man and  a  Papiil:  of  my  Acquaintance  :  the 
former  alledg'd  that  the  other  had  trafngrefs'd 
the  Rules  of  his  Church,  by  eating  FleOi  in 
Lent:  the  latter  anfwer'd,  that  he  did  not;  for, 
fays  he,  I  have  eat  a  Sea-Creature,  which  only 
lives  and  feeds  upon  Fifh-.  The  Protellant  re- 
E  ply'd, 


66        ^Description  of  tU 

ply'd,  that  this  Creature  is  amphibious,  lies, 
creeps,  eats,  deeps,  and  fo  fpends  much  of  its 
time  on  Land,  which  no  Fiih  can  do  and  live. 
It  hath  alfo  anotlier  Faculty  that  no  Fiili  has, 
that  is,  \c-  breaks  Wind  backward  fo  loudly, 
that  one  may  hear  it  at  a  great  diftance.  But 
the  Papift  flill  maintain'd  that  he  mufb  believe 
it  to  be  Fifli,  till  fuch  time  as  the  Pope  and  his 
Fi'iells  decide  the  queiiion. 

ABOUT  three  Leagues  and  a  half  to  the 
Well:,  lie  the  fmall  Iflands  call'd  Hamker-Rocks, 
and  H^wsker-Eggath,  and  Hawsker-Nimannich^ 
'id'^fi;  Mofiks-Rock-  which  hath  an  Altar  in  it. 
The  firfl:  call'd  fo  from  the  Ocean,  as  being 
near  to  it ;  for  Haiv  or  Thau  in  the  antient  Lan- 
guage fignifies  the  Ocean  :  the  more  Southerly 
Rocks  are  fix  or  feven  big  ones  nicked  or  inden- 
ted, for  Eggath  fignifies  fo  much.  The  largeil 
Ifland,  which  is  Northward,  is  near  half  a 
mile  in  Circumference,  and  it  is  covered  with 
long  Grafs.  Only  fmall  Veffels  can  pafs  be- 
tween this  and  the  Southern  Rocks,  being 
neareft  to  St,  KjUa  of  all  the  Vv^eit  Iflands : 
both  of  'em  abound  with  Fowls  as  much  as 
any.Iiles  of  their  extent  in  St.  JsjUa.  The 
Coulterneb,  Guillemot,  and  Scarts,  are  moft 
nunierous  here  ;  the  Seals  likewife  abound  very 
much  in  and  about  thefe  Rocks. 

T  li  E  LHand  of  Falay  lies  on  the  Weft,  near 
the  main  Land  of  Nvrih-Vifi;  it. is  about  four 

miles 


Wejhrn  I/lands  of  Scotland.  6f 

miles  In  Circumference,  arable  and  a  dry  fan^ 
dy  Soil,  very  fruitful  in  Corn  and  Grafs,  Clo- 
ver and  Daly.  It  hath  three  Chappels  ;  one 
dedicated  to  St.  Vlton^  and  another  to  the  Vir- 
gin Mary,  There  are  two  Croffes  of  Stone, 
each  of  them  about  7  foot  high,  and  a  foot  and 
a  half  broad. 

THERE  is  a  little  Font  on  an  Altar,  being 
a  big  Stone,  round  like  a  Cannon-Ball,  and 
having  in  the  upper  end  a  little  Vacuity  capa- 
ble of  two  Spoonfuls  of  Water.  Below  the 
Chappels  there  is  a  flat  thin  Stone,  call'd 
Browmes  Stone,  upon  which  the  antient  Inha- 
bitants offerM  a  Cow's  Milk  every  Sunday ; 
but  this  Cuftom  is  now  quite  abolilVd.  Some 
thirty  paces  on  this  fide,  is  to  be  feen  a  little 
ftone  Houfe  under  gronnd  ;  it  is  very  low  and 
long,  having  an  Entry  on  the  Sea-fide  :  I  faw 
an  Entry  in  the  middle  of  it,  which  was  dif- 
cover'd  by  the  falling  of  the  Stones  and  Earth. 

ABOUT  a  League  to  the  North-eafl:  of 
VaUy  is  the  Ifland  of  Borera,  about  four  miles 
in  Circumference :  the  Mould  in  fome  places  is 
fandy,  and  in  others  black  Earth ;  it  is  very 
fruitful  in  Cattle  and  Grafs.  I  faw  a  Mare 
here,  which  I  was  told  brought  forth  a  Pole  in 
her  fecond  Year. 

THERE  is  a  Cow  here  that  brought  forth 

two  Female  Calves  at  once,  in  all  things  fo  verv 

E  2  like 


68        ^  Descriptio  N  o/  ffce 

like  one  another,  that  they  could  not  be  diftirt- 
guifh'd  by  any  outward  Mark  ;  and  had  fuch  a 
Sympathy,  that  they  were  never  feparate,  ex- 
cept in  time  of  fucking,  and  then  they  kept 
ftiil  their  own  fide  of  their  Dam,  which  was 
not  obferv'd  until  a  diftinguifhing  Mark  was 
put  about  one  of  their  Necks  by  the  Milk- 
maid. In  the  middle  of  this  Ifland  there's  a 
frefh-water  Lake,  well  ftock'd  with  very  big 
Eels,  fome  of  them  as  long  as  Cod  or  Ling- 
Fifh.  There  is  a  Baffage  under  the  ftony 
Ground,  which  is  between  the  Sea  and  the 
Lake,  thro  which  it's  fuppos'd  the  Eels  come  in 
with  the  Spring-Tides :  one  of  the  Inhabitants 
calPd  Mack-Famcb,  i.  e.  Monks-Son^  had  the  cu- 
riofity  to  creep  naked  thro  this  PalTage* 

THIS  Ifland  affords  the  largeft  and  beft 
Dulfe  for  eating  ;  it  requires  leis  Butter  than 
any  other  of  this  fort,  and  has  a  mellowifli 
Tafte. 

THE  Burial-place  near  theHoufesis  call'd 
the  Monks-Field,  for  all  the  Monks  that  died 
in  the  Iflands  that  lie  Northward  from  Egg^ 
were  bury'd  in  this  little  Plot :  each  Grave  hath 
a  Stone  at  both  ends,  fome  of  which  are  ^,  and 
others  4  foot  high.  There  are  big  Stones  with- 
out the  Burial-place  even  with  the  Ground  ;  fe- 
veral  of  them  have  little  Vacuities  in  them  as 
if  made  by  Art  :  the  Tradition  is,  that  thefe 
Vacuities  were  dug  for  receiving  the  Monks 
Knees,  when  they  pray'd  upon  'em. 

THE 


Wcftem  IJlands  of  Scotland.        6^ 

THE  Ifland  Lingay  lies  half  a  League 
South  on  the  fide  of  Borer  a  :  it  is  fingular  in 
refpe6l  of  all  the  Lands  of  Viji,  and  the  other 
Iflands  that  furround  it,  for  they  are  all  com- 
posed of  Sand,  and  this  on  the  contrary  is  alto- 
gether Mofs  cover'd  with  Heath,  affording  five 
Peats  in  depth  ;  and  is  very  ferviceable  and 
ufeful,  furnifhing  the  Ifland  Borer a^  Sec.  vi^ith 
plenty  of  good  Fuel.  This  Ifland  was  held  as 
confecrated  for  feveral  Ages,  infomuch  that  the 
Natives  would  not  then  prefume  to  cut  any 
Fuel  in  it. 

THE   Cattle   produced  here,   are  Horfes, 
Cows,  Sheep  and  Hogs,  generally  of  a  low  ifa- 
ture.     The  Horfes  are  very  ftrong,  and  fit  for 
Pads,  tho  expos'd  to  the  Rigour  of  the  Weather 
all  the  Winter  and  Spring  in  the  open  Fields, 
Their  Cows  are  alfo  in  the  Fields  all  the  Spring, 
and  their  Beef  is  fv/eet  and  tender  as  any  can 
be  :  they  live  upon  Sea-ware  in  the  Winter  and 
Spring,  and  are  fatned    by  it,  nor  are  they 
flaughter'd  before  they  eat   plentifully   of  it 
in  Deceml?er.     The  Natives  are  accuflom'd  to 
fait  their  Beef  in  a  Cow's  Hide,  which  keeps  it 
clofe  from  Air,  and  preferves  it  as  well,  if  not 
better,  than  Barrels,  and  tafl:es  they  fay  beft 
when  this  way  ufed.     This  Beef  is  tranfported 
to  GUfgov^  a  City  in  phe  Weft  of  ScotUnd^  and 
from  thence  (being  put  into  Barrels  there)  ex- 
portecj  to  the  Indies  in  good  condition.     The 
E  J  HHls 


70       ^  DeS  CRIPTIO  N   o/"  t/;e 

Hills  afford  fome  hundreds  of  Deer,  who  eat 
S^a-ware  alfo  in  Winter  and  Spring-time. 

THE  AmfhibtA  produc'd  here  are  Seals  and 
Otters.  There  is  no  Fox  or  venomous  Crea- 
ture in  this  Ifland.  The  great  Eagles  here 
faften  their  Tallons  in  the  back  of  Fifh,  and 
commonly  of  Salmon,  which  is  often  above 
water  and  in  the  furface.  The  Natives,  who 
in  the  Summer-time  live  on  the  Coaft^  do  fomc- 
times  rob  the  Eagle  of  its  Prey  after  its 
Janding, 

HERE  are  Hawks,  Eagles,  Pheafants, 
Moor-Fowls,  Tarmogan,  Plover,  Pigeons, 
Crows,  Swans,  and  all  the  ordinary  Sea-Fowls 
in  the  Weftlflands.  The  Eagles  are  very  de- 
ftruflive  to  the  Fawns  and  Lambs,  efpecially 
the  black  Eagle,  which  is  of  a  lelTer  fize  than 
the  other.  The  Natives  obferve,  that  it  fixes 
its  Tallons  between  the  Deers  Horns,  and  beats 
its  "Wings  conftantly  about  its  Eyes ;  which 
puts  the  Deer  to  run  continually  till  it  fall  into 
a  Ditch,  or  over  a  Precipice,  where  it  dies,  and 
fo  becomes  a  Prey  to  this  cunning  Hunter. 
There  are  at  the  fame  time  feveral  other  Eagles 
of  this  kind,  which  fly  on  both  fides  of  the 
Deer  ;  which  fright  it  extremely,  and  contri- 
bute much  to  its  more  fudden  Deftruftion, 

THE  Forefter  and  feveral  of  the  Natives 
siTur'd  mej  that  they  had  {^(^ai  both  forts  of 

Eagles 


Wejleni  Jfands  of  Scotland.         yi 

Eagles  kill  Deer  in  this  manner.  The  Swans 
come  hither  in  great  numbers  in  the  Month  of 
October,  with  North-Eaft  Winds,  and  live 
in  the  frefli  Lakes,  where  they  feed  upon 
Trout  and  Water-Plants  till  Marcb^  at  which 
time  they  fly  away  again  with  a  South-Eaft 
Wind.  When  the  Natives  kill  a  Swan,  it  is 
common  for  the  Eaters  of  it  to  make  a  Nega- 
tive Vow  (i.  e,  they  fwear  never  to  do  fome- 
thing  that  is  in  it  felf  impradicable)  before 
they  tafte  of  the  Fowl, 

THE  Bird  Cor ;2-Cr^('^r  is  about  the  bignefs 
of  a  Pigeon,  having  a  longer  Neck,  and  being 
of  a  brown  Colour,  but  blacker  in  Harveft  than 
in  Summer  :  the  Natives  fay  it  lives  by  the 
Water,  and  under  the  Ice  in  Winter  and  Spring. 

THE  Cdk  is  a  Fowl  fomewhat  lefs  than  a 
Goofe,  hath  Feathers  of  divers  colours,  as 
white,  grey,  green,  and  black,  and  is  beautiful 
to  the  Eye  :  it  hath  a  Tuft  on  the  Crown  of  its 
Head  hke  that  of  a  Peacock,  and  a  Train  lon- 
ger than  that  of  a  Houfe-Cock.  This  Fowl 
iofeth  its  Feathers  in  time  of  hatching,  and 
lives  moftly  in  the  remoteft  Iflands,  as  Heisker 
and  Ro}2a, 

THE  Gmli?i  is  a  Fowl  lefs  than  a  Duck, 
it  is  reckon'd  a  true  Prognofticator  of  fair  Wea- 
ther ;  for  when  it  fings,  fair  and  good  Wea- 
ther always  follows,  as  the  Natives  commonly 
E  4  obicrve : 


71      ^Description  of  the 

obferve  :  the  Piper  of  St.  Kjlda  plays  the  Notes 
which  it  fings,  and  hath  compofed  a  Tune  of 
'em,  which  the  Natives  judg  to  be  very  fine 
Mufick. 

THE  Rain-Goofe,  bigger  than  a  Duck, 
makes  a  doleful  Noife  before  a  great  Rain  ;  it 
builds  its  Neft  always  upon  the  brink  of  frefh- 
water  Lakes,  fo  as  it  may  reach  the  water. 

THE  Bonnivochil^  fo  call'd  by  the  Natives, 
and  by  the  Se^imen  B^jhop  and  Carrara^  as  big 
as  a  Goofe,  having  a  white  Spot  on  the  Breall, 
and  the  reft  party-colour'd  ;  it  feldom  flies,  but 
is  exceeding  quick  in  diving.  The  Minifter 
of  North-Vtfi  told  me,  that  he  kilPd  one  of 
them  which  weigh'd  fixteen  Pound  and  an 
Ounce :  there  is  about  an  Inch-deep  of  Fat 
upon  the  Skin  of  it,  which  the  Natives  apply 
to  the  Hip-Bone,  and  by  experience  find  it  a 
fuccefsful  Remedy  for  removing  the  Sciatica. 

THE  Bird  Goylir^  about  the  bignefs  of  a 
Swallow,  is  obferv'd  never  to  land  but  in  the 
Month  of  January,  at  which  time  it  is  fuppos'd 
to  hatch ;  it  dives  with  a  violent  fwiftnefs. 
"When  any  number  of  thefe  Fowls  are  feen  to- 
gether, it's  concluded  to  be  an  undoubted  fign 
of  an  approaching  Storm ;  and  when  the  Storm 
ceafes,  they difappear  under  the  water.  'Ihe 
Seamen  call  them  Maltfigies,  from  Mdi^efflgteSy 
which  they  often  find  to  be  true, 

THE 


Wejiern  Jflands  of  Scotland.        7j 

THE  Bird  Sereachan-ainin  is  about  the  big- 
nefs  of  a  large  Mall,  but  having  a  longer  Body, 
and  a  bluifh  Colour  ;  the  Bill  is  of  a  Carnation 
Colour.  This  Bird  Ihrieks  moft  hideoufly, 
and  is  obferv'd  to  have  a  greater  AflPedion  for 
its  Mate,  than  any  Fowl  whatfoever  ;  for 
when  the  Cock  or  Hen  is  kill'd,  the  furviving 
one  doth  for  eight  or  ten  days  afterward  make 
a  lamentable  noife  about  the  place. 

THE  Bird  FaskUar,  about  the  bignefs  of  a 
Sea-Marv  of  the  middle  fize,  is  obferv'd  to  fly 
with  greater  fwiftnefs  than  any  other  Fowl  in 
thofe  parts,  and  purfues  lefTer  Fowls,  and  forces 
them  in  their  flight  to  let  fall  the  Food  which 
they  have  got,  and  by  its  Nimblenefs  catches 
it,  before  it  touch  the  Ground. 

THE  Natives  obferve  that  an  extraordinary 
Heat  without  Rain,  at  the  ufual  tin^e  the  Sea« 
Fowls  lay  their  Eggs,  hinders  them  from  lay- 
ing any  Eggs  for  about  eight  or  ten  days; 
whereas  warm  Weather  accompany'd  with 
Rain  difpofes  them  to  lay  much  fooner. 

THE  Wild-Geefe  are  plentiful  here,  and 
very  deftru8:ive  to  the  Barley,  notwithftanding 
the  many  methods  ufed  for  driving  them  away 
both  by  Traps  and  Gun-£hot.  There  are  fome 
Flocks  of  barren  Fowls  of  all  kinds,  which 
are  diftinguifh'd  by  their  not  joining  with 

the 


74        ^  E)  E  S  C  R  I  P  T  I  O  N  0/  rk' 

the  reft  of  their  kind,  and  they  are  feen  com- 
monly upon  the  bare  Rocks,  without  any 
Nefts. 

THE  Air  is  here  moift  and  moderately 
cold,  the  Natives  qualify  it  fometimes  by- 
drinking  a  Giafs  of  Vjqueb<xugh.  The  Moil- 
ture  of  this  Place  is  fuch,  that  a  Loaf  of  Sugar 
is  in  danger  to  be  dilloly'd,  if  it  be  not  preferv'd 
by  being  near  the  Fire,  or  laying  it  among 
Oatmeal,  in  fome  clofe  place.  Iron  here  be- 
comes quickly  rufty,  and  Iron  which  is  on  the 
Sea-fide  of  a  Houfe  grows  fooner  rufty  than 
that  which  is  on  the  Land-fide. 

THE  greateft  Snow  falls  here  with  the 
South-weft  Winds,  and  feldom  continues  above 
three  or  four  Days.  The  ordinary  Snow  falls 
with  the  North  and  North-weft  Winds,  and 
does  not  lie  fo  deep  on  the  Ground  near  the 
Sea,  as  on  the  tops  of  Mountains. 

.  THE  Froft  continues  till  the  Spring  is  pret- 
ty far  advanc'd,  the  Severity  of  which  occafions 
great  numbers  of  Trouts  and  Eels  to  die,  but 
the  Winter-Frofts  have  not  this  effe6f,  for 
■\Vhich/the  Inhabitants  give  this  reafon,  'viz.. 
That  the  Rains  being  more  frequent  in  OEiober^ 
do  in  their  opinion  carry  the  Juice  and  Quintef- 
fence  Oa  the  Plants  into  the  Lakes,  whereby 
they  think  the  Fiih  are  nouriih'd  during  the 
Wmter,.and  there  being  no  fuch  Nourifhment 
:  •  in 


Weflern  Jjlands  of  Scotland.         yy 

in  the  Spring,  in  regard  of  the  uninterrupted 
running  of  the  Water,  which  carries  the  Juice 
with  it  to  the  Sea,  it  deprives  the  Fifh  of  this 
Nourifhment,  and  confequently  of  Life.  And 
they  add  further,  that  the  Fifli  have  no  accefs 
to  the  Superficies  of  the  Water,  or  to  the  Brink 
of  it,  where  the  Juice  might  be  had.  The 
Natives  are  the  more  confirmed  in  their  Opi- 
nion, that  the  Fifhes  in  Lakes  and  Marfhes  are 
obfervM  to  out-live  both  Winter  and  Spring- 
Frofts.  The  Eaft-North-Eaft  Winds  always 
procure  fair  Weather  here,  as  they  do  in  all 
the  North-Weft  Iflands;  and  the  Rains  are 
more  frequent  in  this  place  in  OBober  and  F^» 
bruar)j  than  at  any  other  time  of  the  Year, 

FOUNTAIN- Water  drunk  in  Winter,  js 
reckoned  by  the  Natives  to  be  much  more 
wholefom  than  in  the  Spring  ;  for  in  the  latter 
it  caufeth  the  Diarrhea  and  Dyfenteria. 

THE  Difeafes  that  prevail  here  are  Fevers, 
Diarrhea  and  Dyfenteria,  Stitch,  COugh,  Scia- 
tica, Megrim,  the  Small-Pox,  which  common- 
ly comes  once  in  1 7  Years  time.  The  ordinary 
Cure  for  Fevers,  is  letting  blood  plentifully':, 
the  Diarrhea  is  cured  by  drinking  Aquavit^y 
and  the  ftronger  the  better.  The  Flefli  and 
Liver  of  Seals  are  ufed  as  above-mention'd, 
both  for  the  Diarrhea  and  Dyfenteria.  Milk 
wherein  Hedick-Stone  has  been  quenched,  be- 
ing frequently  drunk,  is  likewile  a  good  Re- 
medy for  the  two  Difeafes  laft  mention'd. 

THE 


y6       ^DESCRlVTlOf^   of  the 

THE  Kernel  of  the  black  Nut  found  on 
the  Shore,  being  beat  to  powder,  and  drunk 
in  Milk  or  Jquavii^^  is  reckoned  a  good  Re- 
medy for  the  faid  two  Difeafes  :  Stitches  arQ 
cured  fometimes  by  letting  blood. 

THEIR  common  Cure  for  Coughs  is  Bro- 
chan^  formerly  mention'd.     The  Cafe  of  the 
CarrAra-Vo^X,  with  the  Fat,  being  powder'd  a 
little,  and  apply'd  to  the  Hip-bone,  is  an  ap- 
proved Remedy  for  the  Sciatica.     Since  the 
freat  Change  of  the  Seafons,    which  of  late 
ears  is  become  more  piercing  and  cold,  by 
which  the  Growth  of  the  Corn,  both  in  the 
Spring  and    Summer  Seafons   are  retarded  ; 
there  are  fome  Difeafes  difcover'd,  which  were 
not  known  here  before,  viz.  a  fpqtted  Fever, 
which  is  commonly  cured  by  drinking  a  Glafs 
of  Brandy  or  Jquaviu   liberally   when    the 
Difeafe  feizes  them,  and  ufing  it  till  the  Spots 
appear  outwardly.    This  Fever  was  brought 
hither  by  a  Stranger  from  the  Ifland  of  AJuI/y 
who  infe£led  thefe  other  Ifland s.     When  the 
Fever  is  violent,  the  Spots  appear  the  fecond 
Day,  but  commonly  on  the  fourth  Day,  and 
then  the  Difeafe  comes  to  a  Crifis  the  feventh 
Day  :  but  if  the  Spots  don't  appear  the  fourth 
Day,  the  Difeafe  is  reckon'd  mortal  •  yet  it  has 
not  prov'd  fo  here,  tho  it  has  carry'd  off  feveral 
in  the  other  adjacent  Southern  Illands.     The 
Vulgar  are  accuftomM  to  apply  FUmuLtJovis 

for 


Weflern  Jflands  of  Scotland.        77 

for  evacuating  noxious  Humours,  fuch  as  caufe 
the  Heach-ach,  and  Pains  in  the  Arms  or  Legs ; 
and  they  find  great  advantage  by  it.  The  way 
of  ufing  it  is  thus :  They  take  a  quantity  of 
it,  bruifed  fmall  and  put  into  a  Patella,  and  ap- 
ply it  fo  to  the  Skin  a  little  below  the  place 
affefted  :  in  a  fmall  time  it  raifes  a  Blifter  a- 
bout  the  bignefs  of  an  Egg,  which,  when 
broke,  voids  all  the  Matter  that  is  in  it;  then 
the  Skin  fills,  and  fwells  twice  again,  and  as 
often  voids  this  Matter.  They  ufe  the  Sea-  • 
plant  Limrich  to  cure  the  Wound,  and  it 
proves  effeclual  for  this  purpofe,  and  alfo  for 
the  Megrim  and  Burning. 

THE  Broth  of  a  Lamb,  in  which  the 
Plants  Shunnifh  and  Alexander  have  been  boil'd, 
is  found  by  Experience  to  be  good  againft  Con^ 
fumptions.  The  green  Sea-plant  Linanch  is  by 
them  apply'd  to  the  Temples  and  Forehead  to 
dry  up  Defluxions,  and  alfo  for  drawing  up 
the  Tonfels.  Neil  Mackdondd  in.  the  Ifland 
Heiskir  is  fubjed  to  the  falling  of  the  Tonfels 
at  every  Change  of  the  Moon,  and  they  con- 
tinue only  for  the  firft  Quarter.  This  Infir- 
mity hath  continu'd  with  him  all  his  days,  yet 
he  is  now  72  Years  of  Age. 

JOHN  FJKiE  who  lives  in  PabbU  in  the 
Parifh  of  Kjlmoor,  alias  St.  Mary\  is  conftantly 
troubled  with  a  great  Sneezing  a  day  or  two 
before  Rain  ;  and  if  the  Sneezing  be  more  than 

ufual, 


yi      ^Description  of  the 

\ifual,  the  Rain  is  faid  to  be  the  greater :  there- 
fore he  is  caird  the  Rain-Almanack.  He  has 
had  this  Faculty  thefe  nine  Years  paft. 

THERE  is  a  Houfe  in  the  Village  call'd 
Ard-Nim-boothm  in  the  Parifh  of  St.  AUrfs ; 
and  the  Houfe-Cock  there  never  crows  from 
rhe  tenth  of  September  till  the  middle  of  March, 
This  was  told  me  two  Years  ago,  and  fmce 
confirmed  tome  by  the  Natives,  and  the  pre- 
fent  Minifter  of  the  Parifli. 

THE  Inhabitants  of  this  Ifland  are  gene- 
rally well-proportion'd,  of  an  ordinary  Stature 
and  a  good  Complexion  ;  healthful,  and  fome 
of  'em  come  to  a  great  Age :  feveral  of  my 
Acquaintance  arriv'd  at  the  Age  of  90,  and 
upwards  ;  John  Mackdonald  of  Grimmis  was  of 
this  number,  and  died  lately  in  the  93d  Year 
of  his  Age.  Donald  Roy,  who  liv'd  in  the 
Ifle  of  Sand,  and  died  lat:ely  in  the  hundredth 
Year  of  his  Age,  was  able  to  travel  and  ma- 
nage his  Affairs  till  about  two  Years  before  his 
Death.  They  are  a  very  charitable  and  hofpi- 
table  People,  as  is  any  w^here  to  be  found. 
There  was  never  an  Inn  here  till  of  late,  and 
now  there  is  but  one,  which  is  not  at  all  fre- 
quented for  eating,  but  only  for  drinking  ;  for 
the  Natives  by  their  Hofpitality  render  this 
new-invented  Houfe  in  a  manner  ufelefs.  The 
great  Produce  of  Barley  draws  many  Strangers 
to  this  Ifland,  with  a  defign  to  procure  as  much 

of 


'  Weftern  IJlamh  of  Scotland.        y^ 

oF  this  Grain  as  they  can  ;  which  they  get  of 
the  Inhabitants  gratis,  only  for  asking,  as  they 
do  Horfes,  Cows,  Sheep,  Wool,  drc  I  was 
told  fome  months  before  my  lall:  Arrival  there, 
that  there  had  been  ten  Men  in  that  place  at 
onetime  toask  Corn  ^^r^em,  and  every  one  of 
thefe  had  fome  one,  fome  two,  and  others 
three  Attendants ;  and  during  their  abode 
there,  were  all  entertain'd  gratis^  no  one  re- 
turning empty. 

THIS  is  a  great,  yet  voluntary  Tax,  which 
has  continued  for  many  Ages ;  but  the  late  ge- 
neral Scarcity  has  given  them  an  occafion  to 
alter  this  Cultom,  by  making  Afts  againft  Li- 
berality, except  to  poor  Natives  and  Obje£i:s 
of  Charity. 

THE  Natives  are  much  addicted  to  riding, 
the  Plainnefs  of  the  Country  difpofing  both 
Men  and  Horfes  to  it.  They  obferve  an  an- 
niverfary  Cavalcade  on  MichaclmaS'Da.y,  and 
then  all  Ranks  of  both  Sexes  appear  on  horfe- 
back.  The  place  for  this  Rendezvous  is  a  large 
piece  of  firm  fandy  Ground  on  the  Sea-fhore, 
and  there  they  have  Horfe-racing  for  fmall 
Prizes,  for  which  they  contend  eagerly.  There 
is  an  antient  Cuftom,  by  which  it  is  lawful  for 
any  of  the  Inhabitants  to  fteal  his  Neighbour's 
Horfe  the  night  before  the  Race,  and  ride 
him  all  next  day,  provided  he  deliver  him  fafe 
and  fownd  to  the  Owner  after  the  Race.     The 

manner 


8o       »/f  D  E  S  C  R  I  P  T  I  O  N   of  the 

manner  of  running  is  by  a  few  young  Men, 
who  ufe  neither  Saddles  nor  Bridles,  except 
two  fmall  Ropes  made  of  Bent  inftead  of  a 
Bridle,  nor  any  fort  of  Spurs,  but  their  bare 
Heels :  and  when  they  begin  the  Race,  they 
throw  thefe  Ropes  on  their  Horfes  jiecks,  and 
drive 'em  on  vigoroufly  with  apiece  of  long  Sea- 
ware  in  each  hand,  inftead  of  a  Whip  ;  and  this 
is  dry'd  in  the  Sun  feveral  Months  before  for 
that  purpofe.  This  is  a  happy  opportunity  for 
the  Vulgar,  who  have  few  occafions  for  meet- 
ing, except  on  Sundays  :  the  Men  have  their 
Sweet-hearts  behind  them  on  horfe-back,  and 
give  and  receive  mutual  Prefents  ;  the  Men 
prefent  the  Women  with  Knives  and  Purfes, 
the  Women  prefent  the  Men  with  a  pair  of  fine 
Garters  of  divers  Colours,  they  give  them 
likewife  a  quantity  of  wild  Carrots.  This  Ifle 
belongs  in  Property  to  Sir  Do-aald  MackdonaU 
of  Sleat :  he  and  all  the  Inhabitants  are  Pro- 
teftants,  one  only  excepted  ;  they  obferve 
Chrifimas,  Good- Friday^  and  St.  MuhaePs  Day. 


n. 


ie 


Weflern  JJlands  of  Scotland,         8  I 

The  Ifle  Benbecula,  its  Dtftance,  Length, 
<Bay^  Mold,  Grain,  Fify,  Cattle,  trejh 
Lakes,  Forts,  a  Stone  Vault,  Nunnery^ 
proprietor. 

THE  Ifland  of  BenbecuU  lies  dire£lly  to 
the  South  of  Nortb-Vifl,  from  which  it 
is  two  miles  diitant  ;  the  Ground  being  all 
plain  and  fandy  between  them,  having  two 
little  Rivers  or  Channels  no  higher  than  one's 
knee  at  a  Tide  of  Ebb  :  this  PalTage  is  over- 
flow'd  by  the  Sea  ev^ery  Tide  of  Elood,  nor  is 
it  navigable  except  by  Boats.  There  are  fe- 
veral  fmall  Ifland s  on  the  Eaft-fide  of  this 
Channel.  This  Ifland  is  three  Miles  m  length 
from  South  to  North,  and  three  from  Eafl  to 
Weft,  and  ten  Miles  in  compafs.  The  Eaft- 
fide  is  cover'd  with  Heath ;  it  hath  a  Bay  call'd 
Viskway,  in  which  fmall  VefTels  do  fometimes 
harbour,  and  now  and  then  Herrings  are 
taken  in  it. 

THE  Mountain  Benhectda,  from  which  the 
Ifle  hath  its  Name,  lies  in  the  middle  of  it  ; 
the  Eailern  part  of  this  Ifland  is  all  arable, 
but  the  Soil  fandy,  the  Mould  is  the  fame 
with  that  of  North^'^ifi,  and  affords  the  fame 
Corn,  Fifh,  Cattle,  Amphibia,  &c.  There  is 
no  venomous  Creature  here.  It  hath  feveral 
F  frefh- 


ii       ^Description  of  the 

frefh-water  Lakes  well  ftock'd  with  Fifh  and 
Fowl.  There  are  fome  Ruins  of  old  Forts  to 
be  feen  in  the  fmall  Iflands,  in  the  Lakes,  and 
on  the  Plain. 

THERE  are  alfo  fome  fmall  Chappels 
here,  one  of  them  at  Bael-^h-J\JIUch,  id  efl, 
Nuns-Town,  for  there  were  Nunneries  here 
in  time  of  Popery.  The  Natives  have  lately 
difcover'd  a  Stone  Vault  on  the  Eaft-fide  the 
Town,  in  which  there  are  abundance  of  fmall 
Bones,  which  have  occafion'd  many  uncertain 
Conjeftures ;  fome  faid  they  were  the  Bones 
of  Birds,  others  judg'd  them  rather  to  be  the 
Bones  of  Pigmies.  The  Proprietor  of  the 
Town  enquiring  Sir  Norma^nd  Mackleodh  Opi- 
nion concerning  them,  he  told  him  that  the 
ftiatter  was  plain  as  he  fuppos'd,  and  that 
they  muft  be  the  Bones  of  Infants  born  by 
the  Nuns  there.  This  was  very  difagreeable 
to  the  Roman  Catholick  Inhabitants,  who 
laugh'd  it  over.  But  in  the  mean  time  the 
Natives  out  of  Zeal  took  care  to  fhut  up  the 
Vault,  that  no  accefs  can  be  had  to  it  fince  ; 
fo  that  it  would  feem  they  believe  what  Sir 
Normand  faid,  Or  elfe  fear'd  that  it  might  gain 
credit  by  fuch  as  afterward  had  occafion  to 
fee  them.  This  Ifland  belongs  properly  to 
Rd}^d  Nhckdondd  of  BenheciiLt^  who,  with  all 
the  Inhabitants,  are  Roman  Catholicks ;  and 
I  remember  I  have  feen  an  old  Lay  Capuchm 
here,  call'd  in  the  Language  Brahir-Soch^  thac 

is, 


Wejlent  IJlamls  of  Scotlando  8  5 

is,  Poor  Brother  ;  which  is  literally  true,  for  he 
anfwers  this  Character,  having  nothing  but 
what  is  given  him  :  He  holds  himfelf  fully 
fatisfy'd  with  Food  and  Rayment,  and  lives 
in  as  great  Simplicity  as  any  of  his  Order  ;  his 
Diet  is  very  mean,  and  he  drinks  only  fair 
Water :  his  Habit  is  no  lefs  mortifying  than 
that  of  his  Brethren  elfewhere  ;  he  wears  a 
fhort  Coat,  which  comes  no  further  than  his 
Middle,  with  narrow  Sleeves  like  a  Waftcoat ; 
he  wears  a  Plad  above  it  girt  about  the  Mid- 
dle; which  reaches  to  his  Knee  :  the  Plad  is 
faften'd  on  his  Breaft  with  a  wooden  Pin,  his 
Neck  bare,  and  his  Feet  often  fo  too :  he  wears 
a  Hat  for  Ornament,  andthe  String  about  it  is 
a  Bit  of  Fifher's  Line  made  of  Horfe-hair. 
This  Plad  he  wears  inftead  of  a  Gown  worn 
by  thofe  of  his  Order  in  other  Countries.  I 
told  him  he  wanted  the  flaxen  Girdle  that 
Men  of  his  Order  ufually  wear  :  he  anfwer'd 
me,  that  he  wore  a  Leather  one,  which  was 
the  fame  thing.  Upon  the  matter,  if  he  is 
fpoke  to  when  at  Meat,  he  anfwers  again  ; 
which  is  contrary  to  the  Cuftom  of  his  Order. 
This  poor  Man  frequently  diverts  himfelf  with 
Angling  of  Trouts ;  he  lies  upon  Straw,  and 
had  no  Bell  (as  others  have)  to  call  him  to 
his  Devotion,  but  only  his  Confcience,  as  he 
told  me. 

THE  fpeckled  Salmons,  defcribM  in  North- 
Vift^  are  very  plentiful  on  the  Weft  fide  of  this 
Ifland.  F  2  THE 


84         ^  D  E  S  C  R  I  P  T  I  o  N  o/  (fce 

THE  Ifland  of  South-Vtfl  lies  direaiy  two 
Miles  to  the  South  of  BenbecuU^  being  in 
length  one  and  twenty  Miles,  and  three  in 
breadth,  and  in  fome  places  four.  The  Eaflr- 
lide  is  mountainous  on  the  Coaft,  and  heathy 
for  the  moft  part :  the  Weft  fide  is  plain  ara- 
ble Ground,  the  Soil  is  generally  fandy,  yield- 
ing a  good  Produce  of  Barley,  Oats,  and  Rye, 
in  proportion  to  that  of  AV^/^-F/y?,  and  has  the 
fame  fort  of  Cattle.  Both  Eaft  and  Weft  fides 
of  this  Ifland  abound  in  frefli-water  Lakes, 
which  afford  Trouts  and  Eels,  befides  variety 
of  Land  and  Sea-Fowls.  The  arable  Land 
is  much  damnify'd  by  the  overflowing  of  thefe 
Lakes  in  divers  places,  which  they  have  not 
hitherto  been  able  to  drain,  tho  the  thing  be 
prafticable.  Several  Lakes  have  old  Forts  built 
upon  the  fmall  Iflands  in  the  middle  of  them. 
About  four  Miles  on  the  South-Eaft  end  of 
this  Ifland,  is  Loch-Eynord  ;  it  reaches  feveral 
Miles  Weftward,  having  a  narrow  Entry, 
which  makes  a  violent  Current,  and  within 
this  Entry  there's  a  Rock,  upon  which  there 
was  ftaved  to  pieces  a  Frigot  of  CrormvelPsy 
which  he  fent  there  to  fubdue  the  Natives. 
Ambergreafe  hath  been  found  by  feveral  of  the 
Inhabitants  on  the  Weft  Coaft  of  this  Ifland, 
and  they  fold  it  at  GUjgow  at  a  very  low  rate,, 
not  knowing  the  value  of  it  at  firft;  but  when 
they  knew  it,  they  rais'd  the  Price  to  the  other 
Extreme,     Upon  a  Ihaw  after  a  long  Froft, 

the 


■  Weftern  Ijhnds  of  Scotland.         8j 

the  Sou th-Eaft' Winds  cafl:  many  dead  Fiflies 
on  the  fliore.  The  Inhabitants  are  generally 
of  the  fame  Nature  and  Complexion  with 
thofe  of  the  next  adjacent  Northern  lilands ; 
they  wear  the  fame  Habit,  and  ufe  the  fame 
Diet.  One  of  the  Natives  is  very  famous  for 
his  great  Age,  being,  as  it's  faid,  a  hundred 
and  thirty  Years  old,  and  retains  his  Appetite 
and  Underftanding  ;  he  can  walk  abroad,  and 
did  labour  with  his  hands"  as  ufually,  till  with- 
in thefe  three  Years,  and  for  any  thing  I  know 
is  yet  living. 

THERE  are  feveral  big  Kairnes  of  Stone 
on  the  Eaft'fide  this  lUand,  and  the  Vulgar 
retain  the  antient  Cuftom  of  making  a  Reli- 
gious Tour  round  them  on  Sundays  and  Holi<> 
days. 

THERE  is  a  Valley  between  two  Moun- 
tains on  the  Eaft-fide,  calPd  Gtenflyte^  vj\\\cb. 
affords  good  Pafturage.  The  Natives  who 
farm  it,  come  thither  with  their  Cattle  in  the 
Summer-time,  and  are  poirefTed  with  a  firm 
Belief  that  this  Valley  is  haunted  by  Spirits, 
who  by  the'lnhabitants  are  calPd  the  great 
Men;  and  that  whatfoever  Man  or  Woman 
enters  the  Valley,  without  making  firft  an  en- 
tire Refignation  of  themfelves  to  the  Conduct 
of  the  great  Men,  will  infallibly  grow  mad. 
The  words  by  which  he  or  Hie  gives  up  liim- 
fplf  to  thelc  Mens  Conduct,  are  compreheq- 
F  3  ded 


26      .//Description  of  the 

ded  in  three  Sentences,  wherein  the  Glen  h 
twice  named  ;  to  which  they  add,  that  it  is  in- 
habited by  thefe  great  Men,  and  that  fuch  as 
enter  depend  on  their  Protection.  I  told  the 
Natives,  that  this  was  a  piece  of  filly  Credu- 
lity as  ever  was  impos'd  upon  the  moft  igno- 
rant Ages,  and  that  their  imagina';y  Frote6>or$ 
delerv'd  no  fuch  Invocation.  They  anfwer'd, 
That  there  had  happen'd  a  late  Inftance  of  a 
Woman  who  went  into  that  Gle^  without  re- 
figning  her  felf  to  the  Conduct  of  thef^  Men, 
and  immediately  after  fhe  became  mad  ;  which 
confirm'd  them  in  their  unreafonabie  Fancy. 

THE  People  refiding  here  in  Summer,  fay 
they  fometimes  hear  a  loud  noife  in  the  Air, 
like  M^n  fpeaking.  I  enquired  if  their  Prieft 
had  preachM  or  argu'd  againft  this  fuperfti- 
tious  Cuftom  ?  '1  hey  told  me,  he  knew  better 
things,  and  would  not  be  guilty  of  difTuading 
Men  from  doing  their  Duty,  which  they 
doubted  not  he  judg'd  this  to  be;  and  that 
they  refoiv'd  to  perfiil  in  the  Belief  of  it,  until 
they  found  better  Motives  to  the  contrary, 
than  have  been  fhew'd  thern  hitherto.  The 
iProteftant  Minifter  hath  often  endeavour'd  to 
Tundeceive  them.,  but  in  vain,  becaufe  of  an 
Implicit  Faith  they  have  in  their  Prieft :  and 
when  the  Topicks  of  P^rfuafion,  tho  never  fo 
urgent,  come  from  one  they  believe  to  be  a 
Heretick,  there  js  little  hope  of  fuccefs. 

THE 


Wefleni.Jflmds:  of.  Scotland.        8;^ 

.^:  Oil.  '  -  ••!  ,.  y' 
THE  Ijland  Erifca,  about  a  Mile  in  length, 
and  three  in  circumference,  is  partly  lieathy, 
and  partly  arable,  and  yields  a  good  Produce. 
The  inner-fide  hath  a  wide  Anchorage,  there 
is  excellent  Cod  and  Ling  in  it ;  the  Natives 
begin  to  manage  it  better,  but  not  to  that  ad- 
vantage it  is  capable  of.  The  fmall  Ifland 
near  it  was  overgrown  with  Heath,  and  about 
three  Years  ago  the  Ground  threw  up  all  that 
Heath  from  the  very  root,  fo  that  there  is  not 
now  one  Shrub  of  it  in  all  this  Ifland.  Such 
as  have  occafion  to  travel  by  Land  between 
South'Vijt  and  Benhecula,  or  Be?ibecuU  and  North- 
Vifi^  had  need  of  a  Guide  to  dired  them,  and 
to  obferve  the  Tide  when  low,  and  alfo  for 
croffing  the  Channel  at  the  right  Fords,  elfe 
they  cannot  pafs  without  danger, 

THERE  are  fome  Houfes  under-ground 
in  this  Ifland,  and  they  are  in  all  points  like 
thofe  defcrib'd  in  North-Vtft ;  one  of  tliem  is 
in  the  South  Ferry-Town,  oppoflte  to  Barray, 
The  Cattle  produced  here,  are  like  thofe  of 
North-Vifi^  and  there  are  above  three  hundred 
Deer  in  this  Ifland  :  it  was  believed  generally, 
that  no  venomous  Creature  was  here,  yet  of 
late  fome  little  Vipers  have  been  feen  in  the 
South  end  of  the  Ifland. 

THE  Natives  fpeak  the  Iri[fj  Tongue  more 

perfedly  here,   than  in   moil   of  the  other 

F  4  Iflands; 


88      ^  Desckiption  of  the 

Iflands  -,  partly  becaufe  of  the  Remotenefs,  and 
the  Imall  number  of  thofe  that  fpeak  EngUflj^ 
and  partly  becaufe  fome  of  'em  are  Scholars, 
and  vers'd  in  the  Iriflj  Language.  They  >jv'ear 
the  fame  Habit  with  the  neighbouring  Iflan- 
ders. 

THE  more  antient  People  continue  to 
wear  the  old  Drefs,  efpecially  Women :  they 
are  a  hofpitable  well-meaning  People,  but  the 
Misfortune  of  their  Education  difpofes  them 
to  Uncharitablenefs,  and  rigid  Thoughts  of 
their  Proteftant  Neighbours  ;  tho  at  the  fame 
time  they  find  it  convenient  to  make  Alliances 
with  them.  The  Churches  here  are  St.  Co- 
lumha  and  St.  M^r^'s  in  Hogh-more^  the  moft 
centrical  place  in  the  Ifland  ;  St.  ^eremf^  Chap- 
pels,  St,  Peter''Sj  St.  Bmnan^  St.  Michel,  St. 
Donmn, 

THERE  is  a  Stone  fet  up  near  a  Mile  to 
the  South  of  Columbm'^s  Church,  about  8  foot 
high,  and  2  foot  broad  :  it  is  calPd  by  the  Na- 
tives the  Bowing-Stone  ;  for  when  the  Inhabi- 
tants had  the  firft  fight  of  the  Church,  they  fet 
up  this  Stone,  and  there  bow'd  and  faid  the 
Lord's  Prayer.  There  was  a  Buckle  of  Gold 
found  in  Etnort  Ground  fome  twenty  years  ago, 
which  was  about  the  value  of  feven  Guineas, 

AS  I  came  from  South-Vifl,  I  perceiv'd  about 
Tixty  Horfemen  riding  along  the  Sands,  dired- 

ing 


Weft  em  Jflands  of  Scotland.        89 

ing  their  Courfe  for  the  Eaft-Sea  ;  and  being 
between  me  and  the  Sun,  they  made  a  great 
figure  on  the  plain  Sands :  We  difcover'd  them 
to  be  Natives  of  South-Fi/I-,  for  they  alighted 
from  their  Horfes,  and  went  to  gather  Cockles 
in  the  Sands,  which  are  exceeding  plentiful 
there.  This  Ifland  is  the  Property  of  JIU/^ 
Mackdomld  of  Moydarf,  Head  of  the  Tribe  of 
Mackdoriald,  call'd  CUnrondds ;  one  of  the  chief 
Families  defcended  of  Mackdo^/aid,  who  was 
Lord  and  King  of  the  Iflands.  He  and  all  the 
Inhabitants  are  Papifts,  except  fixty,  who  are 
Protertants :  the  Papifts  obferve  all  the  Fefti- 
vals  of  their  Church,  they  have  a  general  Ca- 
valcade on  Jli-  :Samts  Daj,  and  then  they  bake 
St.  MichaePs  Cake  at  night,  and  the  Family  and 
Strangers  eat  it  at  Supper. 

FERGVS  BEATON  hath  the  following 
antient  Iriflj  Alanufcripts  in  the /r///?  Character ; 
to  wit,  Avicenna^  Averroesy  'Joannes  de  VigOj 
'Berncirdm  Gordonus^  and  feveral  Volumes  of 
Mj^Qcrates* 

THE  Ifland  of  B^trrny  lies  about  two 
Leagues  and  a  half  to  the  South- Weft  of  the 
Ifland  Sout'h-Viji ;  it  is  five  Miles  in  length,  and 
three  in  breadth,  being  in  all  refpects  like  the 
Iflands  lying  directly  North  from  it.  The  Eafl: 
fide  is  rocky,  and  the  Weft  arable  Ground, 
and  yields  a  good  Produce  of  the  fame  Grain 
that  both  Vifis.  do  :  they  ufe  likewife  the  fame 

way 


po      ^  D  E  s  c  R I  p  T I  o  N  0/  r/;e 

way  for  enriching  their  Land  with  Sea-ware. 
There  is  plenty  of  Cod  and  Ling  got  on  the 
Eaft  and  South-fides  of  this  Ifland  :  feverai 
fmall  Ships  from  Orkney  come  hither  in  Sum- 
in  ej',  and  afterward  return  loaden  with  Cod 
and  Ling. 

THERE  isafafe  Harbour  on  the  North- 
Eaft  fide  of  Barra,y^  where  there  is  great  plenty 
of  Fifh. 

THE  Rivers  on  the  Eall:  fide  afford  Sal- 
ttions,  fome  of  which  are  fpeckled  like  thefe 
mention'd  in  North-Vip:^  but  they  are  more  fuc- 
cefsful  here  in.  catching  them.  The  Natives 
go  with  three  feverai  Herring-Nets,  and  lay 
them  crofs-ways  m  the  River  where  the  Sal- 
mon are  moft  numerous,  and  betwixt  them 
and  the  Sea.  Thefe  Salmon  at  the  fight  or 
fhadow  of  the  People  make  towards  the  Sea, 
and  feeling  the  Net  from  the  Surface  to  the 
Ground,  jump  over  the  firft,  then  the  fecond, 
but  being  weakned,  cannot  get  over  the  third 
iSfet,  and  fo  are  catch'd.  They  delight  to 
leap  above  water,  and  fwim  on  the  Surface : 
one  of  the  Natives  told  me,  that  he  kilPd  a 
Salmon  with  a  Gun,  as  jumping  above  wa- 
ter. 

THEY  inform'd  mealfo,  that  many  Barrels 
of  them  might  be  taken  in  the  River  above- 
mcntion'd,   if  there  was  any  encouragement 

for. 


Weflern  IJlands  of  Scotland.         9  i 

for  curing  and  tranfporting  them.  There  are 
feveral  old  Forts  to  be  feen  here,  in  form  like 
thofe  in  the  other  Iflands.  In  the  South  encj 
of  this  Ifland  there  is  an  Orchard,  which  pro- 
duces Trees,  but  few  of  them  bear  Fruit,  in 
regard  of  their  Nearnefs  to  the  Sea.  All  forts 
of  Roots  and  Plants  grow  plentifully  in  it  : 
fome  years  ago  Tobacco  did  grow  here,  being 
of  all  Plants  the  moft  grateful  to  the  Natives, 
for  the  Iflanders  love  it  mightily. 

THE  little  Ifland  Kjfmul  lies  about  a  quar- 
ter  of  a  mile  from  the  South  of  this  Ifle  ;  it  is 
the  Seat  of  Mackneil  of  Barray,  there  is  a  ftone 
"Wall  round  it  two  ftories  high,  reaching  the 
Sea,  and  within  the  Wall  there  is  an  old  Tower 
and  an  Hall,  with  other  Houfes  about  it. 
There  is  a  little  Magazine  in  the  Tower,  to 
which  no  Stranger  has  accefs.  I  faw  the  Of- 
ficer calPd  the  Cockman^  and  an  old  Cock  he  is  : 
when  I  bid  him  ferry  me  over  the  Water  to  the 
Ifland,  he  told  me  that  he  was  but  an  inferior 
Officer,  his  bufmefs  being  to  attend  in  the 
Tower  ;  but  if  (fays  he)  the  Conftable,  who 
then  ftood  on  the  Wall,  will  give  you  accefs, 
I'll  ferry  you  over.  I  defir'd  him  to  procure 
me  the  Constable's  Permiflion,  and  I  would 
reward  him  ;  but  having  waited  fome  hours 
for  the  Conftable's  Anfwer,  and  not  receiving 
any,  I  was  obliged  to  return  without  feeing  this 
famous  Fort.  Mackneil  and  his  Lady  being 
abfentj  was  the  caufe  of  this  difficulty,  and  of 

my 


92      ^Description  of  the 

my  not  feeing  the  Place.     I   was  told  fome 
weeks  after,  that  the  Conftable  was  very  appre- 
henfive  of  fome  Defign  I  might  have  m  viewing 
the  Fort,  and  thereby  to  expofe  it  to  the  Con- 
queft  of  a  foreign  Power  ;  of  which  I  fuppos'd 
there  was  no  great  canfe  of  fear.     The  Na- 
tives told   me  there  is  a  Well  in  the  Village 
Tangjlill^   the   Water   of  which  being  boil'd, 
grows   thick  like  Puddle.     There  is  another 
Well  not  far  from  Tar.gfiill^  which  the  Inhabi- 
tants fay  in  a  fertile  Year  throws   up  many 
Grains  of  Barley  in  July   and   Atigtifi,     And 
they  fay  that  the  Well  of  Kjl^^r  throws  up 
Em  brio's  of  Cockles,  but  I  could  not  difcern 
any  in  the  Rivulet,  the  Air  being  at  that  time 
foggy.     The  Church  in    this   Ifland   is  calPd 
Kjlharr^  i.  e.  St.  Biirr''s  Church.    .  There   is  a 
little  Chappel  by  it,  in   which  Macknetl^  and 
thofe  defcended  of  his  Family,  are  ufually  in- 
terred.    The  Natives  have  St.  Barr'^s  wooden 
Image  ftanding    on   the  Altar,   cover'd  with 
Linen  in  form  of  a  Shirt :  all  their  greateft  AfTe- 
verations  are  by  this  Saint.     I  came  very  early 
in  the  Morning  with  an  intention  to  fee  this 
Image,  but  was  difappointed  ;  for  the  Natives 
prevented  me,   by  carrying   it   away,    left  I 
might  take  occafion  to  ridicule  their  Superfti- 
tion,  as  fome  Proteftants  have  done  formerly : 
and  when  I  was  gone,  it  was  again  expos'd  on 
the  Altar.     They  have  feveral  Traditions  con- 
c,  1  ning  this  great  Saint.     There  is  a  Chappel 
(about  half  a  mile  on  the  South  fide  of  the 

Hill 


Weflern  Jflands  of  Scotland.        pj 

Hill  near  St,  Ban's  Church)  where  I  had  oc» 
cafion  to  get  an  account  of  a  Tradition  con- 
cerning this  Saint,  which  was  thus  :    The  Inha- 
bitants having  begun  to  build  the  Church,  which 
they   dedicated    to   him,    they  laid    this    Wooden 
Image  xvithin  it,    but  it  was  invifiblj  tranfforted 
(as  they  fay)    to    the  Place    where  the    Church 
now   Jlands,     and  found    there    every    morning. 
This    miraculous  Conveyance  is  the  .  Reafon 
they   give  for   defifting  to  work  where  they 
firft  began.     I  told  my  Informer  that  this  ex- 
traordinary Motive   was   fufficient   to  deter- 
mine the  Cafe,  if  true,  but  ask'd  his  Pardon 
to    diffent  from  him,   for    I    had   not  Faith 
enough  to  believe  this  Miracle  ;   at  which  he 
was  furprizM,  telling  me  in  the  mean  time, 
that  this  Tradition  hath  been  faithfully  con- 
vey'd  by  the  Priefts  and  Natives  fuccelTively 
to  this  day.    The6V^^/;^r;?  Iflandsare,  (i.)ik/a/- 
doniflj,  about  a  Mile  in  Circumference ;    it  is 
high  in  the  middle,  cover'd  over  with  Heath 
and  Grafs,   and  is  the  only  Foreft   here   for 
maintaining  the    Deer,    being    commonly   a- 
bout  feventy  or  eighty  in  number.     (2.)  The 
Ifland  Sandreray  lies  Southerly  of  Barray,  from 
which    it   is    feparated   by  a   narrow  Chan- 
nel,  and  is    three    Miles    in   Circumference, 
having   a  Mountain  in  the  middle  ;  it  is  de- 
fign'd    for   Pafturage    and    Cultivation.     On 
the  South  fide  there   is    an  Harbour  conve- 
nient   for    fmall  VeiTels,    that    come    yearly 
here  to  fifli  for  ^od  and  Ling,  which  abound 

on 


94      ^  Descrivtios  of  the 

on  the  Coaft  of  this  Ifland.  (5.)  The  Ifland 
Smdreray^  two  Miles  in  Circumference,  is 
fruitful  in  Corn  and  Grafs,  and  feparatcd 
by  a  narrow  Channel  from  Fatter  fay.  (4.)  To 
the  South  of  thefe  lies  the  Ifland  Bernera, 
about  two  Miles  in  Circumference  ;  it  ex- 
cels other  Iflands  of  the  fame  Extent  for 
Cultivation  and  Fifhing.  The  Natives  ne- 
ver go  a  fifhing  while  Mackneil  or  his  Stew- 
ard is  in  the  Ifland,  lefl:  feeing  their  plenty 
of  Fifh,  perhaps  they  might  take  occafion  to 
raife  their  Rents.  There  is  an  old  Fort  in 
this  Ifland,  having  a  Vacuity  round  the 
Walls,  divided  in  little  Apartments.  The 
Natives  endure  a  great  Fatigue  in  manuring 
their  Ground  with  Sea-ware,  which  they  car- 
ry in  Ropes  upon  their  Backs  over  high  Rocks. 
They  likewife  fafl:en  a  Cow  to  a  Stake,  and 
fpread  a  quantity  of  Sand  on  the  Ground, 
upon  which  the  Cow's  Dung  falls,  and  this 
they  mingle  together,  and  lay  it  on  the  ara- 
ble Land.  They  take  great  Numbers  of 
Sea-Fowls  from  the  adjacent  Rocks,  and  fait 
them  with  the  Afhes  of  burnt  Sea- ware  in 
Cows  Hides,  which  preferves  them  from  Pu- 
trefaftion. 

THERE  is  a  fort  of  Stone  in  this  Ifland, 
with  which  the  Natives  frequently  rub  their 
Breafl:s  by  way  of  prevention,  and  fay  it  is 
a  good  Prefervative  for  Health.  This  is  all 
the  Medicine  they  ufe ;  Providence  is  very  fa- 
vourable 


Weflern  IJlands  of  Scotland.        pj 

vourable  to  them,  in  granting  them  a  good 
State  of  Health,  fince  they  have  no  Phylxcian 
among  them. 

THE  Inhabitants  are  very  hofpitable, 
and  have  a  Cuftom,  that  when  any  Stran- 
gers from  the  Northern  Iflands  refort  thither, 
the  Natives,  immediately  after  their  Land- 
ing, oblige  them  to  eat,  even  tho  they 
fliould  have  liberally  eat  and  drunk  but  an 
Hour  before  their  Landing  there.  And  this 
Meal  they  call  Bieyta'v  ;  i.  e.  Ocean  Meat ; 
for  they  prefume  that  the  fiiarp  Air  of  the 
Ocean,  which  indeed  furrounds  them,  mufl 
needs  give  them  a  good  Appetite.  And  what- 
ever Number  of  Strangers  come  there,  .  or 
of  whatfoever  Quality  or  Sex,  they  are  re- 
gularly lodg'd  according  to  antient  Cuftom, 
that  is,  one  only  in  a  Family  ;  by  which 
Cuftom  a  Man  cannot  lodg  with  his  own 
Wife,  while  in  this  Ifland.  Mr.  John  Camp- 
hell,  the  prefent  Minifter  of  Harries,  told  me, 
that  his  Father  being  then  Parfon  of  Harries^ 
and  Minifter  of  Barray  (for  the  Natives  at  that 
time  were  Proteftants)  carry'd  his  Wife  along 
with  him,  and  refided  in  this  Ifland  for  fome 
time,  and  they  difpos'd  of  him,  his  Wife  and 
Servants  in  manner  above-mention'd :  and  fup- 
pofe  Mackmil  of  Barray  and  his  Lady  fhould  go 
thither,  he  would  be  oblig'd  to  comply  with 
this  antient  Cuftom. 

THERE 


^6       ^Description  of  the 

THERE  is  a  large  Root  grows  among  the 
Rocks  of  this  Ifland  lately  difcover'd,  the  Na- 
tives call  it  Curmn-Petris^  of  a  whitifh  Colour, 
and  upwards  of  two  foot  in  length,  where  the 
Ground  is  deep,  and  in  Shape  and  Size  like  a 
large  Carrot  ;  where  the  Ground  is  not  fo 
deep,  it  grows  much  thicker,  but  fliorter  ;  the 
top  of  it  is  like  that  of  a  Carrot, 

THE  Rock  Linmull^  about  half  a  Mile  in 
Circu-mference,  is  indifferently  high,  and  al- 
mofl:  inacceffible,  except  in  one  Place,  and  that 
is  by  climbing,  which  is  very  difficult.  This 
Rock  abounds  with  Sea-Fowls  that  build  and 
hatch  here  in  Summer  j  fuch  as  the  Guillemot, 
Coulter-neb^  Puffin,  8cc.  The  chief  Climber 
is  commonly  calPd  Gingich,  and  this  Name 
imports  a  big  Man  having  Strength  and  Cou- 
rage proportionable.  When  they  approach  the 
Rock  with  the  Boat,  Mr.  Gingtch  jumps  out 
firft  upon  a  Stone  on  the  Rock-fide,  and  then, 
by  the  affiftance  of  a  Rope  of  Horfe-hair,  he 
draws  his. Fellows  out  of  the  Boat  upon  this 
high  Rock,  and  draws  the  reil  up  after  him 
with  the  Rope,  till  they  all  arrive  at  the  Top, 
where  they  purchafe  a  confiderable  Quantity 
of  Fowls  and  Eggs.  Upon  their  return  to  the 
Boat,  this  Gingich  runs  a  great  hazard,  by 
jumping  tirft  into  the  Boat  again,  where  the 
violent  Sea  continually  rages ;  having  but  a 
few  Fowls    more  than   his  Fellows,   befides 


Wejicrn  JJlands  of  :3icotland.  ^^ 

a  greater  Efteem  to  compenfate  his  Courage- 
When  a  Tenant's  Wife  in  this  or  the  adjacent 
Iflands   dies,    he   then   addreffes    himfelf  to 
Mackned  of  Burrayy   reprefenting  his  Lofs,  and 
at  the  fame    time   deili-es   that  he  would  be 
pleas'd   to  recommend  a  Wife  to  him,  with-* 
out  which  he  cannot  manage  his  Affairs,  nor 
beget    Followers    to    Mackneil,    which  would 
prove  a  publick  Lofs  to  him.     Upon  this  Re- 
prefentation,  Macknetl  finds  out  a  futable  Match 
for  him ;  and  the  Woman's  Name  being  told 
him,  immediately  he  goes  to  her,  carrying  with 
him  a  Bottle  of  ftrong  Waters  for  their  Enter- 
tainment at  Marriage,  which  is  then  confum- 
mated. 

WHEN  a  Tenant  dies,  the  Widow  ad- 
clrefTeth  her  felf  to  Mackmil  in  the  fame  man- 
ner, who  likewife  provides  her  with  a  Huf- 
band,  and  they  are  marry'd  without  any  fur- 
ther Courtfliip.  There  is  in  this  Ifland  an 
Altar  dedicated  to  St.  Chrifiopher,  at  which  the 
Natives  perform  their  Devotion.  There  is  a 
Stone  fet  up  here,  about  {Qven  foot  high  ;  and 
when  the  Inhabitants  come  near  it,  they  take 
a  religious  Turn  round  it. 

I  F  a  Tenant  chance  to  lofe  his  Milk-Cows 
by  the  Severity  of  the  Seafon,  or  any  other 
Misfortune  ;  in  this  Cafe  iVhckneil  of  Barray  fup- 
plies  him  with  the  hke  Number  that  he  loll. 

€i  WHEN  . 


98        ^Description  of  the 

WHEN  any  of  thefe  Tenants  are  fo  far 
advanc'd  in  Years  that  they  are  uncapable  to  till 
the  Ground,  Mackneil  takes  fuch  old  Men  into 
his  own  Family,  and  maintains  them  all  their 
Life  after.  The  Natives  obferve,  that  if  fix 
Sheep  are  put  a  grazing  in  the  little  Ifland  Fd- 
bcty^  five  of  them  ftill  appear  far,  but  the  fixth 
a  poor  Skeleton;  but  any  Number  in  this 
Ifland  not  exceeding  five  are  always  very  fat. 
There  is  a  little  Ifland  not  far  from  this,  call'd 
Micklay,  of  the  fame  Extent  as  Pahbay,  and  hath 
the  fame  way  of  feeding  of  Sheep.  Thefe  lit- 
tle Iflands  afford  excellent  Hawks. 

THE  Ifles  above-mention'd,  lying  near  to 
the  South  of  Barray,  are  commonly  call'd  the 
Bijhofs  I/les^  becaufe  they  are  held  of  the  Bi- 
fhop.  Some  Ifles  \k  on  the  Eafl  and  North  of 
Barrajy  as  Fiaray,  Mellijay^  Buy  a  Major  and  Mi- 
7Jor^  Lingayy  Fuda :  they  afford  Pafturage,  and 
are  commodious  for  Fifliing  ;  and  the  latter  be- 
ing about  two  Miles  in  Circumference,  is  fer- 
tile in  Corn  and  Grafs.  There  is  a  good  an- 
choring Place  next  to  the  Ifle  on  the  North-Eaji 
Side. 

THE  Steward  of  the  Leffer  and  Southern 
Iflands  is  reckoned  a  Great  Man  here,  in  re- 
gard of  the  Perquifites  due  to  him  ;  fuch  as  a 
particular  fliare  of  all  the  Lands,  Corn,  But- 
ter, Cheefe,  Fifh,  d^c.  which  thefe  Iflands  pro- 
duce : 


Wejlern  Iflands  of  Scotland.  pp 

duce  :  the  Meafure  of  Barley  paid  him  by  each 
Family  yearly,  isanOmer,  as  they  call  it,  con- 
taining about  two  Pecks* 

THERE  is  an  inferior  Officer,  who  alfo 
hath  a  right  to  a  fhare  of  all  the  fame  Products* 
Next  to  thefe  come  in  courfe  thole  of  the 
loweft  Pofts,  fijch  as  the  Cockman  and  Porter^ 
each  of  whom  hath  his  refpedive  Due,  which 
is  pun£tuaily  paid. 

MACKNEIL  of  Barray  and  all  his  Fol- 
lowers are  Roman  Catholicks,  one  only  ex- 
cepted,  viz.  Murdock  Mackneil  ;  and  it  may 
perhaps  be  thought  no  Tmall  Virtue  in  him  to 
adhere  to  the  Proteftant  Communion,  confider- 
ing  the  Difiid  vantages  he  labours  under  by  the 
want  of  his  Chief's  Favour,  which  is  much  lef- 
fen'd,  for  being  a  Heretick,  as  they  call  him. 
All  the  Inhabitants  obferve  the  Anniverfary  of 
Sti  Barr^  being  the  2ith.o? September  ;  it  isper- 
form'd  riding  on  Horfeback,  and  the  Solemni- 
ty is  concluded  by  three  Turns  round  St.  Barr\ 
Church.  This  brings  into  my  Mind  a  Story 
which  was  told  me  concerning  a  foreign  Prierf, 
and  the  Entertainment  he  met  with  after  his 
Arrival  there  fome  Years  ago,  as  follows  :  This 
Prieft  happened  to  land  here  upon  the  very 
Day,  and  at  the  particular  Hour  of  this  So- 
lemnity, which  was  the  more  acceptabl^to  the 
Inhabitants,  who  then  defir'd  him  to  preach  a 
Commemoration- Sermon  to  the  Honour  of 
G  2  their 


1  oo     ^Description  of  the 

their  Patron  St.  Barr^  according  to  the  antient 
Cuftom  of  the  Place.  At  this  the  Prieft  was 
furpriz'd,  he  never  having  heard  of  St.  Barr  be- 
fore that  Day  ;  and  therefore  knowing  nothing 
of  his  Virtues,  could  fay  nothing  concerning 
him  :  but  told  them,  that  if  a  Sermon  to  the 
Honour  of  St.  Paul  or  St.  Peter  could  pleafe 
them,  they  might  have  it  inftantly.  This  An- 
fwer  of  his  was  fo  difagreeable  to  them,  that 
they  plainly  told  him  he  could  be  no  true  Prieft, 
if  he  had  not  heard  of  St.  Barr,  for  the  Pope 
himfelf  had  heard  of  him  ;  but  this  would  not 
perfuade  the  Prieft,  fo  that  they  parted  much 
diilatisfy'd  with  one  another.  They  have  like- 
wife  a  general  Cavalcade  on  St.  Michaels  Day 
in  Kjlbar  Village,  and  do  then  alfo  take  a  Turn 
round  their  Church.  Every  Family,  as  foon 
as  the  Solemnity  is  ended,  is  accuftomM  to 
bake  St.  Mkhaeih  Cake,  as  above  defcrib'd  ;  and 
all  Strangers,  together  with  thofe  of  the  Fa- 
mily, muft  eat  the  Bread  that  Night. 

THIS  I{land,and  the  ad jacent lefler  Iflands, 
belong  in  property  to  Mackneil,  being  the  thirty 
fourth  of  that  Name  by  Lineal  Defcent  that  has 
polfefs'd  this  Ifland,  if  the  prefent  Genedogers 
may  be  credited.  He  holds  his  Lands  in  Vaf- 
Talage  of  Sir  Donald  Macdondd  of  SUte,^  .^to 
whom  he  pays  40  /.  fer  ann^.  and  a  'Hawk,  if 
required*  and  is  oblig'd  to  furnlfh  him  a  cer- 
tain Number  of  Men  upon  extraordinary  Oc- 
cafions. 


Wefleni  Ijlands  of  Scotland.       i  o  i 

r 

fht  Jntient  and  Modern  Cufloms  of  the  Inha- 
hitants  of  the  Wejlcni  Iflands  of  Scotland. 

EVERY  Heir,  or  young  Chieftain  of  a 
Tribe,  was  obligVI  in  Honour  to  give  a 
publick  Specimen  of  his  Valour,  before  he  was 
own'd  and  declared  Governor  or  Leader  of  his 
People,  who  obey'd  and  follow'd  him  upon  all 
Occafions. 

THIS  Chieftain  was  ufually  attended  with 
a  Retinue  of  young  Men  of  Quality,  who  had 
not  beforehand  given  any  Proof  of  their  Valour, 
and  were  ambitious  of  fuch  an  Opportunity  to 
fignalize  themfelves. 

I T  was  ufual  for  the  Captain  to  lead  them, 
to  make  a  defperate  Incurfion  upon  fome  Neigh- 
bour or  other  that  they  were  m  Feud  with  ;  and 
they  were  oblig'd  to  bring  by  open  force  the 
Cattel  they  found  in  the  Lands  they  attacked, 
or  to  die  in  the  Attempt. 

AFTER  the  Performance  of  this  Atchieve- 
ment,  the  young  Chieftain  was  ever  after  re- 
puted valiant  and  worthy  of  Government,  and 
fuch  as  were  of  his  Retinue  acquired  the  hke 
Reputation.  This  Cuftom  being  reciprocally 
us'd  among  them,  was  not  reputed  Robbe- 
G  I  ryj 


xQi   ^Description  of  the 

ry,  for  the  Damage  which  one  Tribe  fuftaln'd 
by  this  Effay  of  the  Chieftain  of  another, 
was  repair'd  when  their  Chieftain  came  in  his 
turn  to  make  his  Specimen  :  but  I  have  not 
heard  an  Inftance  of  this  Pradtice  for  thefe  fix- 
ty  Years  paft. 

THE  FormaUties  obferv'd  at  the  Entrance 
of  thefe  Chieftains  upon  the  Government  of 
their  Clans,  were  as  follow  : 

A  HEAP  of  Stones  was  ereiEled  in  form 
of  a  Pyramid,  on  the  top  of  which  the  young 
•  Chieftain  was  plac'd,  his  Friends  and  Followers 
ftanding  in  a  Circle  round  about  him,  his  Ele- 
vation fignifying  his  Authority  over  them,  and 
their  ftanding  below  their  Subjection  to  him. 
One  of  his  principal  Friends  delivered  into  his 
Hands  the  Sword  wore  by  his  Father,  and 
there  was  a  white  Rod  deliver'd  to  him  like- 
wife  at  the  fame  time* 

IMMEDIATELY  after  the  Chief  Druid 
(or  Orator)  ftood  clofe  to  the  Pyramid,  and 
pronounc'd  a  Rhetorical  Panegyrick,  fetting 
forth  the  antient  Pedegree,  Valour,  and  Li- 
berality of  the  Family,  as  Incentives  to 
the  young  Chieftain,  and  fit  for  his  imita- 
tion.   ^ 

I T  was  their  Cudom,  when  any  Chieftain 
march'd  upon  a  military  Expedition,  to  draw 

fome 


Wejleni  JJlands  of  Scotland.        105 

fome  Blood  from  the  firft  Animal  that  chanc'd 
to  meet  them  upon  the  Enemy's  Ground,  and 
thereafter  to  fprinkle  fome  of  it  upon  their 
Colours.  This  they  reckoned  as  a  good  Omea 
of  future  SuGcefs. 

THEY  had  their  fix'd  Officers,  who  were 
ready  to  attend  them  upon  all  Occafions,  whe- 
ther Military  or  Civil.  Some  Families  conti- 
nue them  from  Father  to  Son,  particularly 
Sir  Dondd  Macdo^ald  has  his  principal  Stan- 
dard-Bearer and  Qiiarter-mafter.  The  latter 
has  a  right  to  all  the  Hides  of  Cows  kill'd  up- 
on any  of  the  Occafions  mention'd  above ;  and 
this  I  have  ken  exa8:ed  punctually,  tho  the 
Officer  had  no  Charter  for  the  fame,  but  only 
Cuftom. 

THEY  had  a  conftant  Centinel  on  the  top 
of  their  Houfes  call'd  Gockmw,  or,  in  the  E^g- 
lijh  Tongue,  Cockman  ;  who  was  oblig'd  to 
watch  Day  and  Night,  and  at  the  approach  of 
any  body,  to  ask,  Who  comes  there  f  This  Of- 
ficer is  continu'd  in  Barray  (till,  and  has  the  Per- 
quifites  due  to  his  Place  paid  him  duly  at  two 
Terms  in  the  Year. 

THERE  was  a  competent  number  of 
young  Gentlemen  caird  L/Yck^W^,  ov  Guard  de 
Corps^  who  always  attended  the  Chieftain  at 
Home  and  Abroad.  They  were  well  train'd 
in  managing  the  Sword  and  Target,  in  Wreft- 
G  4  ling, 


I  ©4    ^Description  of  the 

ling,  Swimming,  Jumping,  Dancing,  Shoot- 
ing with  Bows  and  Arrows,  and  were  ftout 
Seamen, 

EVERY  Chieftain  had  a  bold  Armour- 
Bearer,  whofe  Bufmefs  was  always  to  attend 
the  Perfon  of  his  Mafter  night  and  day  to 
prevent  any  Surprize,  and  this  Man  was  call'd 
GallogUch  ;  he  had  likewife  a  double  Portion  of 
Meat  affign'd  him  at  every  Meal.  The  Mea- 
fure  of  Meat  ufually  given  him,  is  call'd  to 
this  day  Bteyfir^  that  is,  a  Man's  Portion; 
meaning  thereby  an  extraordinary  Man,  whofe 
Strength  and  Courage  diftinguilli'd  him  from 
|;he  common  fort. 

BEFORE  they  engag'd  the  Enemy  in  Bat- 
tle, the  Chief  Druid  harangu'd  the  Army  to 
excite  their  Courage.  He  was  plac'd  on  an 
Eminence,  from  whence  he  addrefs'd  himfelf 
to  all  of  them  ftanding  about  him,  putting 
them  in  mind  of  what  great  things  were  per- 
formed by  the  Valour  of  their  Anceftors, 
rais'd  their  Hopes  with  the  noble  Rewards  of 
Honour  andVidory,  and  difpell'd  their  Fears 
by  all  the  Topicks  that  natural  Courage 
could  fuggeft.  After  this  Harangue,  the  Ar- 
my gave  a  general  Shout,  and  then  charg'd 
the  Enemy  ftoutly.  This  in  the  antient  Lan- 
guage Was  caird  Brofnichiy  Kjh,  i  e.  an  In- 
centive to  War.  This  Cuftom  of  fhouting 
aloud  is  beliey'd  to  have  taken  its  Rife  from 

an 


Wejlent  I  [lands  of  Scotland.       loj 

anlnftin*^  of  Nature,  it  being  attributed  to 
moft  N'ations  that  have  been  of  a  martial  Ge- 
nius :  As  by  Homer  to  the  TrojiWsf  by  Tacitus  to 
the  Ger mam,  by  Livj  to  the  Gauls.  Every  great 
Family  in  the  Ifles  had  a  Chief  Druid,  vi^ho 
foretold  future  Events,  and  decided  all  Caufes 
Civil  and  Ecclefiaftical.  It  is  reported  of  them 
that  they  wrought  in  the  Night-time,  and  ref- 
ted  all  Day.  Cdfar  fays  they  worfhipp'd  a  Dei- 
ty under  the  name  of  Taramis^  or  Tarm^  which 
m  Wel[h  fignifies  Thunder  ;  and  in  the  antient 
Language  of  the  Highlanders,  Torin  fignifies 
Thunder  alfo. 

ANOTHER  God  of  the  Britons  was  E^- 
lus,  or  Belinm^  which  feems  to  have  been  the 
AffyrUn  God  Bel,  or  Belm  \  and  probably  from 
this  Pagan  Deity  comes  the  Scots  Term  of 
Beltin,   the  Day  of  May,  having  its 

firfl:  Rife  from  the  Cufl:om  praftis'd  by  the 
Druids  in  the  Ifles,  of  extinguifhing  all  the 
Fires  in  the  Parifli  until  the  Tythes  were  paid  ; 
and  upon  payment  of  them,  the  Fires  were 
kindled  in  each  Family,  and  never  till  then. 
In  thofe  days  Malefaftors  were  burnt  between 
two  Fires ;  hence  when  they  would  exprefs  a 
Man  to  be  in  a  great  ftrait,  they  fay,  he  U 
between  two  Tires  of  Bel,  which  in  their  Lan- 
guage they  exprefs  thus,  Tdir  da.  hin  Veaul 
or  Bel.  Some  objefl:  that  the  Druids  could 
not  be  in  the  Ifles,  becaufe  no  Oaks  grow 
there.     To  which  I  anfwer,    That  in  thofe 

days 


lo6    1//  D  E  S  C  R  I  P  T  I  O  N  0/  r& 

days  Oaks  did  grow  there,  and  to  this  day 
there  be  Oaks  growing  in  fome  of  them,  par- 
ticularly in  Sleat,,  the  mo{]:  Southern  part  of  .the 
Ifle  of  Skie.  The  Houfes  named  after  thofe 
Druids  fhall  be  defcrib'd  elfewhere. 

THE  manner  of  Drinking  us'd  by  the  chief 
Men  of  the  iHes,  is  call'd  'm  their  Language 
Sire  Ah  y  i.  e.  a  Rouyid ;  for  the  Company  fat  in 
a  Circle,  the  Cup-Bearer  filPd  the  Drink  round 
to  them,  and  all  was  drank  out,  whatever  the 
Liquor  was,  whether  ftrong  or  weak  ;  they 
continu'd  drinking  fometimes  twenty  four, 
fometimes  forty  eight  Hours  :  It  was  reckon'd 
a  piece  of  Manhood  to  drink  until  they  became 
drunk,  and  there  were  two  Men,  with  a  Bar- 
row attending  punctually  on  fuch  Occafions. 
They  llrood  at  the  Door  until  fome  became 
drunk,  and  they  carry'd  them  upon  the  Bar- 
row to  Bed,  and  returned  again  to' their  Pofb 
as  long  as  any  continued  frefli,  and  fo  carry'd 
off  the  whole  Company  one  by  one  as  they  be- 
came drunk.  Several  of  my  Acquaintance 
have  been  WitnefTes  to  this  Cuftom  of  Drink- 
ing, but  it  is  now  abolifh'd. 

AMONG  Perfons  of  Diftin£lion  it  was 
reckon'd  an  Affront  put  upon  any  Company 
to  broach  a  Piece  of  Wine,  Ale,  or  Jquavit^y 
and  not  to  fee  it  all  drank  out  at  one  Meeting. 
If  any  Man  chance  to  go  out  from  the  Com- 
pany,   tho  but  for  a  few  Minutes,  he  is  ob- 

lig'd 


Weflcrn  I/lands  of  Scotland.        1 07 

lig'd  upon  his  Return,  and  before  he  take  his 
Seat,  to  make  an  Apology  for  his  Abfence  in 
Rhyme ;  which  if  he  cannot  perform,  he  is 
liable  to  fuch  a  ll:are  of  the  Reckoning  as  the 
Company  thinks  fit  to  impofe  :  which  Cuftom 
obtains  in  many  places  ftill,  and  is  calPd 
Bemchiy  Bard,  which  in  their  Language  fig- 
nifies  the  Poet's  congratulating  the  Com- 
pany. 

IT  hath  been  an  antient  Cuftom  in  thefe 
Ifles,  and  ftill  continues,  when  any  number 
of  Men  retire  into  a  Houfe,  either  to  dif- 
courfe  of  ferious  Bufinefs,  or  to  pafs  fome 
time  in  drinking  ;  upon  thefe  occafions  the 
Door  of  the  Houfe  ftands  open,  and  a  Rod  is 
put  crofs  the  fame,  which  is  under ftood  to  be 
a  fign  to  all  Perfons  without  diftin£lion  not 
to  approach  :  and  if  any  fhould  be  fo  rude  as 
to  take  up  this  Rod,  and  come  in  uncalPd,  he 
is  fure  to  be  no  welcome  Gueft  ;  for  this  is 
accounted  fuch  an  Affront  to  the  Company, 
that  they  are  bound  in  honour  to  refent  .it ; 
and  the  Perfon  offending  may  come  to  have 
his  Head  broken,  if  he  do  not  meet  with  a 
harfher  Reception. 

THE  Chieftain  is  ufually  attended  with  a 
numerous  Retinue  when  he  goes  a  hunting 
the  Deer,  this  being  his  firit  Specimen  of 
manly  Exercife.  Ail  his  Clothes,  Arms,  and 
Hunting-Equipage  are,  upon  his  Return  from 

the 


I  o8     v/^  D  E  S  C  R  I  P  T  I  O  N   of  the 

the  Hills,  given  to  the  Forefter,  according  to 
Cuftom. 

EVERY  Family  had  commonly  two  Stew- 
ards, which  in  their  Language  were  calPd 
Mar/fehall  Taeh :  the  firft  of  thefe  ferv'd  ai- 
ways  at  home,  and  was  oblig'd  to  be  well 
vers'd  in  the  Pedegree  of  alf  the  Tribes  in  the 
Ifles,  and  in  the  Highlands  of  Scotlmd ;  for  it 
was  his  Province  to  affign  every  Man  at  Ta- 
ble his  Seat  according  to  his  Quality ;  and  this 
was  done  without  one  word  fpeaking,  only  by 
drawing  a  Score  with  a  white  Rod  which  this 
Marifih/til  had  in  his  hand,  before  the  Perfon 
who  was  bid  by  him  to  fit  down :  and  this 
was  necefTary  to  prevent  Diforder  and  Conten- 
tion ;  and  tho  the  Marifcha/l  might  fometimes 
be  miftaken,  the  Mafter  of  the  Family  in- 
curr'd  no  Cenfure  by  fuch  an  Efcape  :  but  this 
Cuftom  has  been  laid  afide  of  late.  They 
had  alfo  Cup-bearers,  who  always  filPd  and 
carry'd  the  Cup  round  the  Company,  and  he 
himfelf  drank  off  the  firft  Draught.  They 
had  likewife  Purfe-mafters,  who  kept  their 
Mony.  Both  thefe  Officers  had  an  hereditary 
Right  to  their  Office  in  Writing;  and  each  of 
them  had  a  Town  and  Land  for  his  Service  : 
fome  of  thofe  Rights  I  have  feen  feirly  written 
on  good  Parchment. 

BESIDES  the  ordinary  Rent  paid  by  the 
Tenant  to   his  Mafter,   if  a   Cow   brought 

forth 


Wefiern  IJlands  of  Scotland.      t  09 

forth  two  Calves  at  a  time,  which  indeed  is 
extraordinary,  or  an  Ewe  two  Lambs,  which 
is  frequent,  the  Tenant  paid  to  the  Mafter  one 
of  the  Calves  or  Lambs ;  and  the  Mafter  on 
his  part  was  oblig'd,  if  any  of  his  Tenants 
Wives  bore  Twins,  to  take  one  of  them,  and 
breed  him  in  his  own  Family.  I  have  known 
a  Gentleman,  who  had  fixteen  of  thefe  Twins 
in  his  Family  at  a  time. 

THEIR  antient  Leagues  of  Friendfhip 
were  ratify'd  by  drinking  a  Drop  of  each  o- 
ther's  Blood,  which  was  commonly  drawn  out 
of  the  little  Finger.  This  was  religioufly  ob- 
ferv'd  as  a  facred  Bond  ;  and  if  any  Perfon 
after  fuch  an  Alliance  happen'd  to  violate  the 
fame,  he  was  from  that  time  reputed  un- 
worthy of  all  honeft  Mens  Converfation. 
Before  Mony  became  current,  the  Chieftains 
in  the  Ifles  beftow'd  the  Cow's  Head,  Feet, 
and  all  the  Entrails  upon  their  Dependents; 
fuch  as  the  Phyfician,  Orator,  Poet,  Bard, 
Muficians,  &c.  and  the  fame  was  divided 
thus :  the  Smith  had  the  Head,  the  Piper  had 
the,  &c, 

IT  was  an  antient  Cuftom  among  the 
lOanders,  to  hang  a  He-Goat  to  the  Boat's 
Maft,  hoping  thereby  to  procure  a  favourable 
Wind  :  but  this  is  not  pra&is'd  at  prefent ;  tho 
I  am  told  it  hath  been  done  once  by  fome  of 
the  Vulgar  within  thefe  1 5  Years  laft  paft. 

THEY 


1 1  o    ^i  Description  of  tk 

THEY  had  an  unlverfal  Cuftom,  of  pour-* 
ing  a  Cow's  Milk  upon  a  little  Hill,  or  big 
Stone,  where  the  Spirit  C2i\Vd  Br otv^j  was  be- 
liev'd  to  lodg :  this  Spirit  always  appear'd  in 
the  fliape  of  a  tall  Man,  having  very  long 
brown  Hair.  There  was  fcarce  any  the  lealt 
Village  in  which  this  fuperftitious  Cuftom  did 
not  prevail.  I  enquir'd  the  reafon  of  it  from 
feveral  well-meaning  Women,  who,  until  of 
late,  had  pradfis'd  it  ;  and  they  told  me,  that 
it  had  been  tranfmitted  to  them  by  their  An- 
ceftors  fuccefsfully,  who  belie v'd  it  was  at- 
tended with  good  Fortune,  but  the  moil:  Cre- 
dulous of  the  Vulgar  had  now  laid  it  afide.  It 
was  an  ordinary  thing  among  the  Over-cu- 
rious to.confult  an  invifible  Oracle,  concerning 
the  Fate  of  Families,  and  Battles,  &c.  This 
was  perform'd  three  different  ways ;  the  firft 
was  by  a  Company  of  Men,  one  of  whom  be- 
ing detach'd  by  Lot,  was  afterwards  carry'd 
to  a  River,  which  was  the  Boundary  between 
two  Villages ;  four  of  the  Company  laid  hold 
on  him,  and  having  fhut  his  Eyes,  they  took 
him  by  the  Legs  and  Arms,  and  then  tolling 
him  to  and  again,  ftruck  his  Hips  with  force 
againft  the  Bank.  One  of  them  cry'd  out, 
What  is  it  you  have  got  here  ?  Another  an- 
fwers,  A  Log  of  Birch-wood.  The  other  cries 
again.  Let  his  invifible  Friends  appear  from  all 
quarters,  and  let  them  relieve  him  by  giving 
an  Anfwer  to  our  prefent  Demands :  and  in  a 

few 


Weftern  JJlcinis  of  Scotland.     1 1 1 

few  Minutes  after,  a  number  of  little  Crea- 
tures came  from  the  Sea,  who  anfwer'd  the 
QiieiHon,  and  difappear'd  fuddenly.  The  Man 
was  then  fet  at  liberty,  and  they  all  return'd 
home,  to  take  their  Meafures  according  to  the 
Prediftion  of  their  falfe  Prophets ;  but  the  poor 
deluded  Fools  were  abufed,  for  the  Anfwer  was 
ftill  ambiguous.  This  was  always  praftifed  in 
the  Night,  and  may  literally  be  calPd  the 
Works  of  Darknefs. 

I  HAD  an  account  from  the  moft  intelli- 
gent and  judicious  Men  in  the  Ifle  of  Skie^ 
that  about  fixty  two  Years  ago,  the  Oracle 
was  thus  confulted  only  once,  and  that  was  in 
the  Parifh  of  Kjhnartm^  on  the  Eaft  fide,  by 
a  wicked  and  mifchievous  Race  of  People, 
who  are  now  extinguifh'd,  both  Root  and 
Branch. 

THE  fecond  way  of  confulting  the  Oracle 
was  by  a  Party  of  Men,  who  firft  retir'd  to 
folitary  Places,  remote  from  any  Houfe,  and 
there  they  fingled  out  one  of  their  number,  and 
wrapt  him  in  a  big  Cow's  Hide,  which  they 
folded  about  him  :  his  whole  Body  was  co- 
ve r'd  with  it  except  his  Head,  and  fo  left  in 
this  pofture  all  night,  until  his  invifible  Friends 
reliev'd  him,  by  giving  a  proper  Anfwer  to  the 
Queftion  in  hand ;  which  he  receiv'd,  as  he 
fancy'd,  from  feveral  Perfons  that  he  found  a- 
bout  him  all  that  time.    His  Conforts  return'd 

to 


Ill     ^Description  of  the 

to  him  at  Break  of  Day,  and  then  he  commu- 
nicated his  News  to  them ;  which  often  provr'd 
fatal  to  thofe  concern'd  in  fuch, unwarrantable 
Enquiries. 

THERE  was  a  third  way  of  confulting, 
which  was  a  Confirmation  of  the  fecond  a- 
bove-mention'd.  The  fame  Company  who 
put  the  Man  into  the  Hide,  took  a  live  Cat 
and  put  him  on  a  Spit ;  one  of  the  number  was 
employ'd  to  turn  the  Spit,  and  one  of  his  Con- 
forts  enquir'd  of  him,  What  are  you  doing  ? 
He  anfwer'd,  I  roaft  this  Cat,  until  his  Friends 
anfwer  the  Queftion  ;  which  muft  be  the  fame 
that  was  propos'd  by  the  Man  fhut  up  in  the 
Hide.  And  afterwards  a  very  big  Cat  comes, 
attended  by  a  number  of  lelTer  Cats,  defiring 
to  relieve  the  Cat  turn'd  upon  the  Spit,  and 
then  anfv/ers  the  Queifion.  If  this  Anfwer 
prov'd  the  fame  that  was  given  to  the  Man  in 
the  Hide,  then  it  was  taken  as  a  Confirmation 
of  the  other,  which  in  this  cafe  was  believ'd 
infallible. 

Mr.  Alexander  Cooper^  pfefent  Minifter  of 
North-Vijl^  toy  me,  that  one  'John  Erach  in  the 
Ifle  of  Lewis  affurM  him,  it  was  his  Fate  to 
have  been  led  by  his  Curiofity  with  fome  who 
confulted  this  Oracle,  and  that  he  was  a 
Night  within  the  Hide,  as  above  mention'd  • 
during  which  time  he  felt  and  heard  fuch  ter- 
rible things,  that  he  could  not  exprefs  them  : 

the 


Wejlem  IJlands  of  Scotland.        i  i  > 
the  Impreffion  it  made  on  him  was  fuch  as 
could  never  go  off,  and  he  faid  that  for  a  thou- 
fand  Worlds  he  would  never  again  be  con- 
cern'd  in  the  like  performance,  for  this  had  dif- 
order'd  him  to  a  high  degree.     He  confefs'd 
it  ingenuoully,  and  with  an  Air  of  great  Re- 
morfe,  and  feem'd  to  be  very  penitent  under  a 
jufl:  Senfe  of  fo  great  a  Crime :  he  declared  this 
about  five  Years  fince,  and  is  ftill  living  in  the 
Lewis^  for  any  thing  I  know.     The  Inhabitants 
here  did  alfo  make  ufe  of  a  Fire  call'd  Tm-Eginy 
i.  e,  a.  forced  Fire,  or  Fire  of  necellity ;  which 
they  ufed  as  an  Antidote  againft  the  Plague 
Or  Murrain  in  Cattel ;  and  it  was  perform'd 
thus  :  All  the  Fires  in  the  Parifh  were  extin- 
guifh'd,  and  then  eighty  one  marry'd  Men,  be- 
ing thought  the  necelTary  number  for  effeding 
this  Defign,  took  two  great  Planks  of  Wood, 
and  nine  of  'em  were  employed  by  turns,  who 
by  their  repeated  Efforts  rubb'd  one  of  the 
Planks  againft  the  other  until  the  Heat  thereof 
produced  Fire  ;  and  from  this  forc'd  Fire  each 
Family  is  fupply'd  with  new  Fire,  which  is  no 
fooner  kindled,  than  a  Pot  full  of  Water  is 
quickly  fet  on  it,  and  afterwards  fprinkled  upon 
the  People  infe8:ed  with  the  Plague,  or  upon 
the  Cattle  that  have  the  Murrain.     And  this 
they  all  fay  they  find  fuccefsful  by  Experience  : 
it  was  praftis'd  in  the  main  Land,  oppofite  to 
the  South  of  6kie,  within  thefe  thirty  Years. 

H  THEY 


114     ^Description  of  the 

THEY  preferve  their  Boundaries  from  be- 
ing liable  to  any  Debates  by  their  SuccefTors, 
thus:  They  lay  a  quantity  of  the  Afhes  of  burnt 
Wood  in  the  Ground,  and  put  big  Stones  above 
the  fame  ;  and  for  conveying  the  knowledg  of 
this  to  Pofterity,  they  carry  fome  Boys  from 
both  Villages  next  the  Boundary,  and  there 
whip  'em  foundly,  which  they  will  be  fure  to 
remember,  and  tell  it  to  their  Children.  A 
Debate  having  rifen  betwixt  the  Villages  of 
Ofe  and  Grobm  in  6'^'/^,  they  found  Afhes  as 
above  mention'd  under  a  Stone,  which  de- 
cided the  Controverfy.  It  was  an  antient  Cus- 
tom in  the  Iflands,  that  a  Man  fhould  take  a 
Maid  to  his  Wife,  and  keep  her  the  fpace  of 
a  Year  without  marrying  her ;  and  if  fhe 
pleafed  him  all  the  while,  he  marry'd  her  at 
tlie  end  of  the  Year,  and  legitimated  thefe 
Children  :  but  if  he  did  not  love  her,  he  re- 
turn'd  her  to  her  Parents,  and  her  Portion  alfo ; 
and  if  there  happened  to  be  any  Children,  they 
were  kept  by  the  Father  :  but  this  unreafonable 
Cuftom  was  long  ago  brought  in  difufe. 

IT  is  common  in  thefe  Iflands,  when  a  Te- 
nant dies,  for  the  Mafter  to  have  his  choice  of 
all  the  Horfes  which  belong'd  to  the  Deceased  j 
and  this  was  call'd  the  Eachfuin  Horizeilda^ 
i.  e.  a  Lord's  Gift :  for  the  firfl:  ufe  of  it  was 
from  a  Gift  of  a  Horfe  granted  by  all  the  Sub- 

jeds  in  Scotland  for  relieving  King 

from 


Weflern  Iflands  of  Scotland.         1 1  j 

from  his  Imprifonment  in  England,  There  was 
another  Duty  payable  by  all  the  Tenaxnts  to 
their  Chief,  tho  they  did  not  live  upon  his 
Lands  ;  and  this  is  call'd  Calpkh  :  there  was  a 
ftanding  Lavv^  for  it  alfo,  calPd  Calpich-L^w ; 
and  I  am  informed  that  this  is  exacted  by  fome 
in  the  main  Land  to  this  day. 

WOMEN  were  antiently  deny'd  the  ufe 
of  Writing  in  the  Iflands,  to  prevent  Love-In- 
trigues :  their  Parents  believ'd,  that  Nature 
was  too  skilful  in  that  matter,  and  needed  noc 
the  help  of  Education  ;  and  therefore  that 
Writing  would  be  of  dangerous  confequence 
to  the  weaker  Sex. 

THE  Orators,  in  then*  Language  caWd  If- 
Dane,  were  in  high  efteem  both  in  thefe  Iflands 
and  the  Continent;  until  within  thefe  forty 
Years,  they  fat  always  among  the  Nobles  and 
Chiefs  of  Families  in  the  Streah  or  Circle.  Their 
Houfes  and  little  Villages  were  Sanctuaries,  as 
well  as  Churches,  and  they  took  place  before 
Do6lors  of  Phyfick.  The  Orators,  arc-^r  the 
Druids  were  extin£l,  were  brought  in  to  pre- 
ferve  the  Genealogy  of  Families,  and  to  re- 
peat the  fame  at  every  Succe^ioa  of  a  Chief; 
and  upon  the  occafion  of  Marriages  and  Births, 
they  made  EpL'halamiums and Par'/efryricks^which 
the  Poet  or  Bard  pronounc'd.  The  Orators  by 
the  force  of  their  Eloquence  had  a  powerful 
Afcendant  over  the  greatefl:  Men  in  their 
H  2  tirae^ 


\i6     ^Desckiption  of  tfce 

time ;  for  if  any  Orator  did  but  ask  the  Ha- 
bit, Arms,  Horfe,  or  any  other  thing  belong- 
ing to  the  greateft  Man  in  thefe  Iflands,  it  was 
readily  granted  them,   fometimes   out  of  re- 
fpeO:,   and   fometimes   for  fear  of  being  ex- 
claim'd  againft  by  a  Satire,  which  in  thofe 
days  was  reckon'd  a   great  diflionour :    but 
thefe  Gentlemen  becoming  infolent,  loft  ever 
fince  both  the  Profit  and  Efteem  which  was 
formerly  due  to  their  Charader ;  for  neither 
their  Panegyricks  nor  Satires  are  regarded  to 
what  they  have  been,  and  they  are  now  al- 
lowed but  a  fmall  Salary.     I  muft  not  omit  to 
relate  their  way  of  Study,  which  is  very  Angu- 
lar :  They  fhut  their  Doors  and  Windows  for  a 
day's  time,  and  lie  on  their  backs,  with  a  Stone 
upon  their  Belly,  and  Plads  about  their  Heads, 
and  their  Eyes  being  cover'd,  they  pump  their 
Brains  for  Rhetorical  Encomium  or  Panegy- 
rick  ;  and  indeed  they  furnifh  fuch  a  Stile  from 
this  dark  Cell,  as  is  underftood  by  very  few  : 
and  if  they  purchafe  a  couple  of  Horfes  as  the 
Reward  of  their  Meditation,  they  think  they 
have  done  a  great  matter.     The  Poet,  or  Bard, 
had  a  Title  to  the  Bridegroom's  upper  Garb, 
that  is,  the  Piad  and  Bonnet ;  but  now  he  is 
fatisfy'd  with  what  the  Bridegroom  pleafes  to 
give  him  on  iuch  occafions. 

THERE  was  an  antient  Cuftom  in  the 
Ifland  of  Lewis,  to  make  a  fiery  Circle  about 
tlis  Houfes,  Corn,  Cattle,  d^'c   belonging  to 

each 


Weftem  IJlands  of  Scotland.       i  i  7 

each  particular  Family  :  A  Man  carry'd  Fire 

in  his  right  hand,  and  went  round,  and  it  was 

caird  Defil,  from  the  right  Hand,  which  in 

the  antient  Language  is  call'd  Defs.     An  In- 

ftance  of  this  Round  was  performed  in   the 

Village  Shadir  in  Lervis^   about  fixteen  years 

ago  (as  I  was  told)  but  it  proved  fatal  to  the 

Praclifer,  call'd  MAc-Callum ;  for  after  he  had 

carefully    perform'd    this   Round,    that    very 

Night  following  he  and  his  Family  were  fadly 

furpriz'd,   and  all  his  Houfes,  Corn,  Cattle, 

&c,  were  confumed  with  Fire.     This  fuper- 

ftitious  Cuftom  is  quite  abolifh'd  now,  for  there 

has  not  been  above  this  one  Inftance  of  it  in 

forty  Years  paft. 

THERE  is  another  way  of  the  !>#/,  or 
carrying  Fire  round  about  Women  before  they 
are  churched,  after  Child-bearing  ;  and  it  is 
ufed  likewife  about  Children  until  they  be 
chriften'd  :  both  which  are  perform'd  in  the 
Morning  and  at  Night.  This  is  only  prac- 
tifed  now  by  fome  of  the  antient  Midwives : 
I  enquired  their  Reafons  for  this  Cuftom, 
which  I  told  them  was  altogether  unlawful ; 
this  difoblig'd  them  mightily,  infomuch  that 
they  would  give  me  no  fatisfa£lion.  But 
others,  that  were  of  a  more  agreeable  Temper, 
told  me  the  Fire-round  was  an  effeftual  means 
to  preferve  both  the  Mother  and  the  Infant 
from  the  power  of  evil  Spirits,  who  are  ready 
at  fuch  times  to  do  mifchief,  and  fometimes 
H  I  carry 


1 1 8    A  De  s  c  r  I  p  t  1  o  n  o/*  tk 

carry  away  the  Infant ;  and  when  they  get 
them  once  in  their  poffeflion,  return  them 
poor  meagre  Skeletons :  and  thefe  Infants  are 
iaid  to  have  voracious  Appetites,  conftantly 
craving  for  Meat.  In  this  cafe  it  was  ufual 
with  thofe  who  believ'd  that  their  Children 
were  thus  taken  away,  to  dig  a  Grave  in  the 
Fields  upon  Quarter-Day,  and  there  to  lay 
the  Fairy  Skeleton  till  next  Morning  ;  at 
which  time  the  Parents  went  to  the  place, 
where  they  doubted  not  to  find  their  own 
Child  inftead  of  this  Skeleton.  Some  of  the 
poorer  fort  of  People  in  thefe  Iflands  retain 
the  Cuftom  of  performing  thefe  Rounds  Sun- 
ways,  about  the  Perlbns  of  their  Benefaclors 
three  times,  when  they  blefs  them,  and  wifh 
good  fuccefs  to  all  their  Enterprizes,  Some 
are  very  careful,  when  they  fet  out  to  Sea, 
that  the  Boat  be  firft  row'd  about  Sun-ways  ; 
and  if  this  be  neglected,  they  are  afraid  their 
Voyage  may  prove  unfortunate.  I  had  this 
Ceremony  paid  me  (when  in  the  Ifland  of 
Ha)  by  a  poor  Woman,  after  I  had  given  her 
an  Alms :  I  defired  her  to  let  alone  that 
Compliment,  for  I  did  not  care  for  it ;  but 
fhe  infilled  to  make  thefe  three  ordinary 
Turns,  and  then  pray'd  that  God  and  Miic- 
Charmfgy  the  Patron  Saint  of  that  Ifland, 
might  blefs  and  profper  me  in  all  my  Defigns 
and  Affairs. 


Weft  em  Jftands  of  Scotland.       1 1  p 

I  ATTEMPTED  twice  to  go  from  lU 
to  CoUonfay^  and  at  both  times  they  row'd  about 
tb^  Boat  Sun-ways,  tho  I  forbid  them  to  do  it ; 
anci  by  a  contrary  Wind  the  Boat  and  thofe  in 
it  were  forcM  back.  I  took  Boat  again  a  tliird 
time  from  Jar^  to  Collonfry^  and  at  the  fame 
time  forbid  them  to  row  about  their  Boat, 
which  they  obey'd,  and  then  we  landed  fafely 
at  Collonfay^  without  any  ill  Adventure ;  which 
fome  of  the  Crew  did  not  believe  poflible,  for 
want  of  the  Round  :  but  this  one  Inftance  hath 
convinc'd  them  of  the  Vanity  of  this  fuper- 
ffitious  Cergnony.  Another  antient  Cuftom 
obferv'd  on  the  fecond  of  February,  which  the 
Papifts  there  yet  retain,  is  this  :  The  Miftrefs 
and  Servants  of  each  Family  take  a  Sheaf  of 
Oats,  and  drefs  it  up  in  Womens  Apparel, 
put  it  in  a  large  Basket,  and  lay  a  wooden 
Club  by  it,  and  this  they  call  Briids-kd -jSind 
then  the  Miftrefs  and  Servants  cry  three  times, 
Briid  is  come,  Briid  is  welcome.  This  they 
do  juft  before  going  to  bed,  and  when  they 
rife  in  the  morning  they  look  among  the 
Afhes,  expelling  to  fee  the  Impreflion  of 
Briid^s  Club  there  ;  which  if  they  do,  they 
reckon  it  a  true  Prefage  of  a  good  Crop,  and 
profperous  Year,  and  the  contrary  they  tike  as 
an  ill  Omen. 

IT  has  been  an  antient  Cuftom  amongfl: 

the  Natives,  and  now  only  ufed  by  fome  old 

H  4  ?^9E1^5 


no    ^  Description  0/  tk  » 

People,  to  fwear  by  their  Chief  or  Laird's 
Hand. 

WHEN  a  Debate  arifes  between  two Per- 
fons,  if  one  of  them  affert  the  matter  by  your 
Father's  Hand,  they  reckon  it  a  great  Indigni- 
ty ;  but  if  they  go  a  degree  higher,  and  out 
of  fpite  fay,  by  your  Father  and  Grandfather's 
Hand,  the  next  Word  is  commonly  accom- 
pany'd  with  a  Blow. 

IT  is  a  receiv'd  Opinion  in  thefe  Iflands, 
as  well  as  in  the  neighbouring  part  of  the  main 
Land,  That  Women  by  a  Charm,  or  fome 
other  fecret  way,  are  able  to  convey  the  In- 
creafe  of  their  Neighbours  Cows  Milk  to  their 
own  ufe  ;  and  that  the  Milk  fo  charm'd,  doth 
not  produce  the  ordinary  quantity  of  Butter  ; 
and  the  Curds  made  of  that  Milk  are  fo  tough, 
that  it  cannot  be  made  fo  firm  as  other  Cheefe, 
and  is  alfo  much  lighter  in  weight.  The 
Butter  fo  taken  away,  and  join'd  to  the  Char- 
mer's Butter,  is  evidently  difcernible  by  a 
Mark  of  Separation,  viz.  the  Diverfity  of  Co- 
lours ;  that  which  is  charm'd  being  ifill  paler 
than  that  part  of  the  Butter  which  hath  not 
been  charm'd  :  and  if  Butter  having  thefe 
Marks  be  found  with  a  fufpeded  Woman,  ibe 
is  prefently  faid  to  be  guilty.  Their  ufual 
way  pf  recovering  this  Lofs,  is  to  take  a  little 
of  the  Rennet  from  all  the  fufpe8:ed  Perfons, 
and  to  put  it  in  an  Egg-fhell  full  of  Milk ;  and 

when 


WeJU^nr-Jftands  of  Scotland.      i  2 1 

when  tHat  from  the  Charmer  is  mingled  with 
it,  it  prefently  curdles,  and  not  before. 

THIS  was  aiTerted  to  me  by  the  generality 
of  the  moft  Judicious  People  in  thefe  Iflands ; 
feme  of  them  having,  as  they  told  me,  come 
to  the  knowledg  of  it  to  their  coft.  Some 
Women  make  ufe  of  the  Root  of  Groundfel  as 
an  Amulet  againft  fuch  Charms,  by  putting  it 
among  their  Cream. 

BOTH  Men  and  Women  in  thofe  Iflands, 
and  in  the  neighbouring  main  Land,  alErm 
that  thelncreafe  of  Milk  is  likewife  taken  away 
by  Trouts ;  if  it  happen  that  the  Difhes  or 
Pales  wherein  the  Milk  is  kept,  be  wafli'd  in 
the  Rivulets  where  Trouts  are.  And  the  way 
to  recover  this  Damage,  is  by  taking  a  live 
Trout,  and  pouring  Milk  into  its  mouth  ; 
which  they  fay  doth  prefently  curdle,  if  it 
was  taken  away  by  Trouts,  but  otherwife  they 
fay  it  is  not. 

THEY  affirm  likewife,  that fome  Women 
have  an  Art  to  take  away  the  Milk  of 
Nurfes. 

I  SAW  four  Women,  whofe  Milk  were 
try'd,  that  one  might  be  chofen  for  a  Nurfe ; 
and  the  Woman  pitch'd  upon,  was  after  three 
days  Suckling  depriv'd  of  her  Milk :  where- 
upon fhe  was  fent  away,  and  another  put  in 

her 


T  1 2     ^  D  E  S  C  R  I  P  T  I  O  N  0/  ffo 

her  place ;  and  on  the  third  day  after,  (lie  that 
was  .firfl:  chofen  recover'd  her  Milk  again. 
This  was  concluded  to  be  the  effeft  of  Witch- 
craft by  fome  of  her  Neighbours. 

THEY  alfofay,  that  fome  have  an  Art  of 
taking  away  the  Increafe  of  Malt,  and  that 
the  Drink  made  of  this  Malt  hath  neither 
Life  nor  good  Tafte  in  it ;  and,  on  the  contra- 
ry, the  Charmer  hath  very  good  Ale  all  this 
time.  A  Gentleman  of  my  acquaintance,  for 
the  fpace  of  a  Year,  could  not  have  a  drop  of 
good  Ale  in  his  Houfe ;  and  having  complain'd 
of  it  to  all  that  conversed  with  him,  he  was 
at  laft  advifed  to  get  fome  Yeaft  from  every 
Alehoufe  in  the  Parifh  :  and  having  got  a  lit- 
tle from  one  particular  Man,  he  put  it  among 
his  Wort,  which  became  as  good  Ale  as  could 
be  drank,  and  fo  defeated  the  Charm.  After 
which,  the  Gentleman  in  whofe  Land  this 
Man  lived,  banifh'd  him  thirty  fix.  miles  from 
thence. 

THEY  fay  there  be  Women  who  have  an 
Art  of  taking  a  Moat  out  of  one's  Eye,  tho  at 
fome  miles  diftance  from  the  Party  griev'd ; 
and  this  is  the  only  Charm  thefe  Women  will 
avouch  themfelves  to  underiland,  as  fome  of 
phem  told  me,  and  feveral  of  thefe  Men,  out  of 
whofe  Eyes  Moats  were  then  taken,  confirm'd 
the  Truth  of  it  to  me. 

ALL 


Wejlern  I/lands  of  Scotland.        1 2  j 

ALL  thefe  Iflanders,  and  feveral  thoufands 
on  the  neighbouring  Continent,  are  of  opinion, 
that  feme  particular  Perfons  have  an  evil  Eye, 
which  afFeds  Children  and  Cattle :  this,  they 
fay,  occafions  frequent  Mifchances,  and  fome- 
times  Death.  I  could  name  fome  who  are  be- 
liev'd  to  have  this  unhappy  Faculty,  tho  at 
the  fame  time  void  of  any  ill  Defign.  This 
hath  been  an  antient  Opinion,  as  appears  from 
that  of  the  Poet : 

Nefcio  quis  teneros  oculm  mihi  faffinAt  Jgnos, 


Courts 


124    ^Description  of  the 

Courts  of  Judicatory, 

AT  the  firft  Plantation  of  thefe  Ifles,  all 
matters  were  managM  by  the  fole  Au- 
thority of  the  Heads  of  Tribes,  call'd  in  the 
Irijhy  Thiarm^  which  was  the  fame  with  lyrAn- 
nm^  and  now  it  fignifies  Lord  or  Chief;  there 
being  no  Standard  of  Equity  or  Juftice,  but 
what  flow'd  from  them.  And  when  their 
Numbers  increas'd,  they  erefted  Courts  call'd 
Moeie,,  and  in  the  Eftgltflj^  Baron-Courts. 

THE  Proprietor  has  the  Nomination  of 
the  Members  of  this  Court ;  he  himfelf  is  Pre- 
fident  of  it,  and  in  his  abfence  his  Bayliff: 
the  Minifter  of  the  Pariflh  is  always  a  Member 
of  it.  There  are  no  Attorneys  to  plead  the 
Caufe  of  either  Party,  for  both  Men  and  Wo- 
men reprefent  their  refpeftive  Caufes  ;  and 
there  is  always  a  fpeedy  Decifion,  if  the  Par- 
ties have  their  WitneiTes  prefent,  &c. 

THERE  is  a  peremptory  Sentence  pafles  in 
Court  for  ready  Payment,  and  if  the  Party 
againft  whom  Judgment  is  given  prove  re- 
fradory,  the  other  may  fend  the  common  Of- 
ficer, who  has  power  to  diftrain,  and  at  the 
fame  time  to  exaft  a  Fine  of  20  /.  Scots,  for 
the  ufe  of  the  Proprietor,  and  about  two 
Marks  for  himfelf. 

THE 


Wefteni  JfUnds  of  Scotland.      i  2  5 

THE  Heads  of  Tribes  had  their  OfFenfive 
and  Defenfive  Leagues,  calFd  Bonds  of  Ma/i- 
dratey  and  Munrent  in  the  Lowlands  ;  by  which 
each  Party  was  oblig'd  to  afTill  one  another 
upon  all  extraordinary  Emergencies.  And  tho 
the  Differences  between  thofe  Chieftans  in- 
volv'd  feveral  Confederates  in  a  Civil  War, 
yet  they  oblig'd  themfelves  by  the  Bond  men- 
tioned above  to  continue  ftedfaft  in  their  Duty 
to  their  Sovereign. 

WHEN  the  Proprietor  gives  a  Farm  to  his 
Tenant,  whether  for  one  or  more  Years,  it  is 
cuftomary  to  give  the  Tenant  a  Stick  of  Wood, 
and  Tome  Straw  in  his  hand  :  this  is  immediate- 
ly returned  by  the  Tenant  again  to  his  Mafter, 
and  then  both  Parties  are  as  much  oblig'd  to 
perform  their  refpedive  Conditions,  as  if  they 
had  fign'd  a  Leafe,  or  any  other  Deed. 


Church^ 


1  2(5     ^  D  E  S  C  R  I  P  T  I O  N    o/  f/;^ 


Church'VtJciplhie. 

EVERY  PariQi  in  the  Weftern  iHes  has  a 
Church-Judicature,  call'd  the  Conftftory, 
or  Kjrk'Seffion^  where  the  Minifter  prefides, 
and  a  competent  number  of  Laymen,  calPd 
Elders,  meet  with  him.  They  take  cogni- 
zance of  Scandals,  cenfure  faulty  Perfons,  and 
with  that  ftri^tnefs,  as  to  give  an  Oath  to 
thofe  who  are  rufpe8:ed  of  Adultery  or  Forni- 
cation ;  for  which  they  are  to  be  proceeded 
againft  according  to  the  Cuftom  of  the  Coun- 
try. They  meet  after  Divine  Service;  the 
chief  Heretor  of  the  Parifli  is  prefent,  to  con- 
cur with  them,  and  enforce  their  A6ls  by  his 
Authority,  which  is  irrefiftible  within  the 
bounds  of  his  Jurifdidion. 


Wejlern  Iflands  of  Scotland,     i  27 

^  Form  of  grayer  ufed  hy  ynany  of  the 
IJlamlcrs  at  Sea^  after  the  Satis  are 
hoiflcd. 

[This  Form  is  contain'd  in  the  Iri/b  Liturgy 
compos'd  by  Mr.  Joh/t  Kfrfwell,  after- 
wards Bifhop  of  Jrg^le  ;  printed  in  the 
Year  1566,  and  dedicated  to  the  Earl  of 
Argjle.  I  have  fet  down  the  Original,  for 
the  fatisfadion  of  fuch  Readers  as  under- 
ftand  it.] 


M 


Odh  Bendaighto  luingo  ag  dul  dionfa.  idhe 
mfairrge, 
J^ah  Aon  da.  chaeh  Marfo. 
Da, 

An  Stioradoir. 
Beanighidh  Mr  Long. 

Fregra  Chaich. 
Go  wbeandaighe  Dia  Athair  i. 
An  Stioradoir. 
Beanoddhidh  ar  Long, 

"♦-egra. 
Go  mbeandaighe  Joja  '.    hCd  i. 
An  Stioradoir.- 
Beanoaidhidh  ar  Long. 

Fregra. 
Go  mbeandaighe  an  Shiorad  Naomh  u 

An  Stioradoir. 
Cred  if  egatl  Libh  is  Dhia  Atbair  libh, 

Fregra. 


1 2  S     ^Description  of  the 

Fregra. 
Ni  heagal  en  ni. 

An  Stioradoir. 
Qred.  is  egil  libh  is  Dia,  an  Mac  Libh. 

Fregra. 
Ni  heagal  en  ni. 

An  Stioradoir. 
Qred,  is  eagail  Libh  is  Dia  an  Jbiorod  Naomh 
libh, 

Fregra.     , 
Ni  heagal  en  ni. 

An  Stioradoir. 
T>ia  Athair  Vile  Chumhachtach  ar  Gradh  a  Mbic 
yofa  Criofd,  le  Comh  jhurtach  an  Spioraid  Naomh^ 
An  taon  Dhia  tug  Cland  Ifrael  trid  an  Muir  raaigh 
go  mirbhuileach,  agas  tug  'Jonas  ad  fir  ambroind 
an  Mhil  mhoie,  ^  tug  PohEafpol^  agas  a  long 
gon,  foirind  o  an  fadh  iomarcach,  agas  o  dheartan 
dominde  dar  fa  oradhne,  agas  dar  Jenadh^  agas  dar 
mbeandrghadh^  agas  dar  m  breith  le  fen^  agas  le 
foinindy  agas  le  folas  do  chum  chnain,  agas  chalaidh 
doreir  a  theile  diadha  fein. 

Ar  ni  iarrmoid  air  ag  radha. 
Ar  Nathairne  at  a  ar  Neamh^  8tc* 
Abradh  Cach  Vile. 
Bionh  Amhlvidh, 


The 


Wejienj  IJlands  of  Scotland.        i  2p 

The  Manner  of  Blefling  the  Ship, 
when  they  put  to  Sea. 

The  Steerf-man  fays, 
ET  m  blefs  our  Ship. 

The  Anfwer  by  all  the  Crew ; 
God  the  Father  blefs  her, 

Steerf-man. 
Let   us  blefs  our  Ship. 

Anfwer. 
y^y^tf  Chrift  blefs  her. 

Steerfman. 
Let  us  blefs  our  Ship. 

Anfwer. 
The  Holy  Ghoft  blefi  her, 

Steerf-man. 
What  do  you  fear^  fince  God  the  lather  is  with 
you? 

Anfwer. 
We  do  not  fear  any  thing. 

Steerf-man. 
What  do  you  fear.,  fmce  God  the  So»  is  with 
you  ? 

Anfwer. 
M^e  do  not  fear  any  thing. 
Steerf-man. 
What  are  you  afraid  of  fmce  God  the  Holy  Ghofl 
is  with  you  ? 

Anfwer. 
We  do  not  fear  any  thing. 

I  Steerf- 


130        J  DeS  CRIP  TI  O  N- Y  ffe 

Steerf-man. 
Goi  i%s  Father  Almighty^  for  the  Love  of  Jeff^ 
Chrifi  his  Son,  by  the  Comfort  of  the  Holy  Ghofl, 
the  One  God,  who  miraculoujly  brought  the  Children 
of  Ifrael  through  the  Red  Sea^  and  brought  Jonas 
to  Lmd  out  of  the  Belly  of  the  fVhale,  and  the 
Jfojl/e  St.  Paul  and  his  Ship  to  fafety  from  the 
troubled  raging  Sea,  and  from  the  Violence  of  a 
tempejiuous  Storm  ;  deliver,  fanBify,  blefs  and  con- 
duct us  peaceably^  calmly^  and  comfortably  through 
the  Sea  to  our  Harbour^  according  to  his  Divine 
Will :  which  we  beg,  faying,  Our  Father,  &c. 


Wejiern  IJlands  of  Scotland*         i  j  t 


A  Defiription  of  the  I/le  of  SKI E. 

SK^IE  (in  the  antient  Language  Skianach^ 
/.  e.  wing'd)  is  fo  caU'd  becaufe  the  two 
oppofite  Northern  Promontories  (Fatemefs  ly- 
ing North- weft,  a.nd  Troternefs  North-eaft)  re^ 
femble  two  Wings,  This  Ifle  Ues  for  the  moft 
part  half-way  in  the  Weftern  Sea,  between  the 
main  Land  on  the  Eaft,  the  Shire  of  Rofs,  and 
the  Weftern  Ifle  of  Lems,  Sec. 

THE  Ifle  is  very  high  Land,  as  well  on  the 
Coaft,  as  higher  up  in  the  Country  ;  and  there 
are  {evGn  high  Mountains  near  one  another, 
almoft  in  the  Center  of  the  Ifle. 

THIS  Ifland  is  forty  miles  in  length  from 
South  to  North,  and  in  fome  places  twenty,  and 
in  others  thirty  in  breadth  ;  the  whole  may  a- 
mount  to  a  hundred  miles  in  Circumference* 

THE  Channel  between  the  South  of  Skie 
and  oppofite  main  Land  (which  is  part  of  the 
Shire  of  Innernefs)  is  not  above  three  Leagues 
in  breadth  ;  and  where  the  Ferry-Boat  croifeth 
to  Glenelg  it's  fo  narrow,  that  one  may  call  for 
the  Ferry-Boat,  and  be  eafily  heard  on  the  other 
fide.  This  Ifle  is  a  part  of  the  Sheriffdom  of 
Innernefs^  and  formerly  of  the  Diocefs  of  the 
.12  Ifles, 


1^1     ^Description  o/fk 

Ifles,  which  was  united  to  that  of  Jrgyle :  a 
South-Eaft  Moon  caufeth  a  Spring-Tide  here. 

THE  Mold  is  generally  black,  efpecially 
in  the  Mountains  ;  but  there  is.fome  of  a  red 
colour,  in  which  Iron  is  found. 

THE  arable  Land  is  for  the  moft  part  black, 
yet  affords  Clay  of  different  colours ',  as  white, 
red,  and  blue  :  the  Rivulet  at  Dunvegm 
Churcli,  and  that  of  Nisbofi^  have  Fullers- 
Earth. 

THE  Villages  Borve  and  Glenmore  afford 
two  very  fine  forts  of  Earth,  the  one  red,  the 
other  white ;  and  they  both  feel  and  cut  like 
melted  Tallow.  There  are  other  places  that 
afford  plenty  of  very  fine  white  Marie,  which 
cuts  like  Butter  ;  it  abounds  moft  in  Corchatta- 
charij  where  an  Experiment  has  been  made  of 
its  Virtue  :  A  quantity  of  it  being  fpread  on  a 
floping  Hill  cover'd  with  Heath,  foon  afteir 
all  the  Heath  fell  to  the  ground,  as  if  it  had 
been  cut  with  a  Knife.  They  afterwards  fow'd 
Barley  on  the  ground,  which  tlio  it  grew  but 
unequally,  fome  places  producing  no  Grain, 
becaufe  perhaps  it  was  unequally  laid  on ;  yet 
the  Produce  was  thirty  five  fold,  and  many 
Stalks  carry'd  five  Ears  of  Barley.  This  ac- 
count was  given  me  by  the  prefent  PoffefTor  of 
the  Ground,  L/ichiin  Mac'KJnon^ 

THERE 


Wefteni  Ipands  of  Scotland.       i  53 

THERE  are  Marcafhes  black  and  white, 
refembling  filver  Ore,  near  the  Village  Sank  : 
there  are  like  wife  in  the  fame  place  feveral 
Stones,  which  in  bignefs,  fhape,  d'c.  referable 
Nutmegs,  and  many  Rivulets  here  afford  va- 
riegated Stones  of  all  colours.  The  Jpples- 
glen  near  Loch-fa/Iart  has  Aggat  growing  in  it 
of  different  fizes  and  colours ;  fome  are  green 
on  the  out-fide,  fome  are  of  a  pale  sky-colour, 
and  they  all  ftrike  tire  as  well  as  Flint :  I  have 
one  of  them  by  me,  which  for  Ihape  and  bignefs 
is  proper  for  a  Sword-handle.  Stones  of  a  pur- 
ple colour  flow  down  the  Rivulets  here  after 
great  Rains. 

THERE  is  Chryftal  in  feveral  places  of 
this  Ifland,  as  at  Portrj,  Quillw^  and  Mingnis  ; 
it's  of  different  fizes  and  colours,  fome  is  fex- 
angular,  as  that  of  Qutllin^  and  Mmgnis ;  and 
there  is  fome  in  Minnnefs  of  a  purple  colour. 
The  YilhgeTorrm  in  Strath  affords  a  great  deal 
of  good  white  and  black  Marble ;  I  have  i^^Qn 
Cups  made  of  the  white,  which  is  very  fine. 
There  are  large  Quarries  of  Free-ftone  in  feve- 
ral parts  of  this  Ifle,  as  at  Snifnefs  in  Strath^  in 
the  South  of  Borrie^  a nd  Ifle  of  Rafay.  There  is 
abundance  of  Lime-ftone  in  Strath  and  Trotter- 
nejs  :  fome  Banks  of  Clay  on  the  Eaft,  Coaft  are 
overflow'd  by  the  Tide,  and  in  thefe  grow  the 
Lapis  Ceranim^  or  Cerna,  Jmomis,  of  different 
Ihapes  \  fome  of  the  breadth  of  a  Crown-piece, 
I  3  bearing 


134   ^Description  of  the 

bearing  an  Impreffion  refembling  the  Sun; 
fome  are  as  big  as  a  Man's  Finger,  inform  of  a 
Semicircle,  and  furrow'd  on  the  inner  fide; 
others  are  iefs,  and  have  furrows  of  a  yellow 
colour  on  both  fides.  Thefe  Stones  are  by  the 
Natives  call'd  Cramp-ftones,  becaufe  (as  they 
fay)  they  cure  the  Cramp  in  Cows,  by  wafhing 
the  partaffefted.  with  Water  in  which  this  Stone 
has  been  fteep'd  for  fome  hours.  The  Velumnites 
grow  likewife  in  thefe  Banks  of  Clay;  fome 
of  'em  are  twelve  Inches  long,  and  tapering 
towards  one  end  :  the  Natives  call  them  Bot 
Stones^  becaufe  they  believe  them  to  cure  the 
Horfes  of  the  Worms  which  occafion  that  Dif- 
temper,  by  giving  them  Water  to  drink,  in 
which  this  Stone  has  been  fl:eep'd  for  fome  hours. 

THIS  Stone  grows  likewife  in  the  middle 
of  a  very  hard  grey  Stone  on  the  fhore.  There 
is  a  black  Stone  in  the  Surface  of  the  Rock  on 
i^/^-fhore,  which  refembles  Goats  Horns. 

THE  L^pis  Hecticus^  or  white  Heftick 
Srone,  abounds  here  both  in  the  Land  and  Wa- 
ter :  the  Natives  ufe  this  Stone  as  a  Remedy  a- 
gainft  the  DyfemerU  and  Diarrhea  ;  they  make 
them  red-hot  in  the  fire,  and  then  quench 
them  in  Milk,  and  fome  in  Water,  which  they 
drink  with  good  fuccefs.  They  ufe  this  Stone 
after  the  fame  manner  for  Confumptions,  and 
they  likewife  quench  thefe  Stones  in  Water, 
with  which  they  bathe  their  Feet  and  Hands. 

THE 


Wejleni  JJlands  of  Scotland.        1 3  5 

THE  Stones  on  which  the  Scurf  calPd  Cor- 
kir  grows,  are  to  be  had  in  many  places  on  the 
Coaft,  and  in  the  Hills.  This  Scurf  dyes  a 
pretty  crimfon  Colour;  firfl:  well  dry'd,  and 
then  ground  to  powder,  after  which  it's  fteep'd 
in  Urine,  the  VeiTel  being  well  fecur'd  from 
Air  ;  and  in  three  Weeks  it's  ready  to  boil  with 
the  Yarn  that  is  to  be  dyed.  Tiie  Natives 
obferve  the  Decreafe  of  the  Moon  for  fcraping 
this  Scurf  from  the  Stone,  and  fay  it's  ripeft 
in  Augufi, 

THERE  are  many  white  Scurfs  on  Stone, 
fomewhat  like  thefe  on  which  the  Corktr  grows, 
but  the  Corktr  is  white,  and  thinner  than  any 
other  that  refembles  it. 

THERE  is  another  coarfer  Scurf  calPd 
Crofttl ;  it's  of  a  dark  colour,  and  only  dyes  a 
Philamot. 

THE  Rocks  in  the  Village  Ord,  have 
much  Talk  growing  on  them  like  the  Venice- 
Talk, 

THIS  Ifle  is  naturally  well  provided  with 
variety  of  excellent  Bays  and  Harbours.  In 
the  South  of  it  lies  the  PeninfuU  call'd  Oronfa^ 
dias  Ifland  Dierman  ;  it  has  an  excellent  Place 
for  Anchorage  on  the  Eaft-fide,  and  is  gene- 
rally known  by  moft  Scots  Sea-men.  About  a 
1  4  League 


\]6    ^Description  of  tk 

League  more  Eafterly  on  the  fame  Coaft  there 
isafmallRock,  vifible  only  at  half  Low- water, 
but  may  be  avoided  by  fteering  through  the 
middle  of  the  Channel.  About  a  League  more 
Eafterly  on  the  fame  Coaft,  there  is  an  Ancho- 
rage pretty  near  the  Shore :  within  lefs  than  a 
mile  further  is  the  narrow  Sound  caU'd  the 
Ky^e^  in  order  to  pafs  which  it*s  abfolutely  ne- 
cefTary  to  have  the  Tide  of  Flood  for  fuch  as 
are  Northward  bound,  elfe  they  will  be  oblig'd 
to  retire  in  diforder,  becaufe  of  the  Violence 
of  the  Current ;  for  no  Wind  is  able  to  carry 
a  VelTel  againft  it.  The  quite  contrary  Courfe 
is  to  be  obfervM  by  VeiTels  coming  from  the 
North.  A  mile  due  Eaft  from  the  JCylr^ 
there  is  a  big  Rock,  on  the  South  fide  "the 
point- of  Land  on  She  fide,  calPd  KjitlUch^ 
which  is  overflow 'd  by  the  Tide  of  Flood  ;  a 
VeiTel  may  go  near  its  out-fide.  Above  a  mile 
further  due  North,  there  are  two  Rocks  in  the 
pafTage  through  the  Kjfle ;  they  are  on  the 
Caftle  fide,  and  may  be  avoided  by  keeping  the 
middle  of  the  Channel.  About  eight  miles 
more  to  the  Northward,  or  the  Eaft  of  Skie^ 
there  is  fecure  Anchorage  between  the  IflcS^^/^^ 
and  Skie  in  the  middle  of  theChannel ;  but  one 
muft  not  come  to  in  by  the  South  Entry  of  Scal- 
pa:  and  in  coming  between  R^faj  and  this  Ifle, 
there  are  Rocks  without  the  Entry,  which  may 
be  avoided  beft,  by  having  a  Pilot  of  the  Coun- 
try. More  to  the  North  is  Lockfligichar/^  on 
the  Coaft  of  Skie^  where  is  good  Anchorage ; 

the 


Weft  em  Iflands  of  Scotland.       1^7 

the  Entry  is  not  deep  enough  for  VelTels  of  any 
Burden,  except  at  high  Water  :  but  three 
miles  further  North  lies  Loch-Tor  try  ^  a  capa- 
cious and  convenient  Harbour  of  ^above  a  mile 
in  length.    .  ,.,...,        •  ,,'.    ,,; 

THE  V^vATulm^vM^W^i^n  half  a 
mile  of  the  Northermoft  Point  of  Skie,  has  an 
Harbour  on  the  infide.  The  Entrance  be- 
t:ween  the  Ifle  and  Dimtulm  Caftle  is  the  beil. 

ON  the  Weft  of  the  fame  Wing  of  Skie^ 
and  about  five  miles  more  Southerly,  lies  Loch- 
Vge^  about  a  mile  in  length,  and  a  very  good 
Harbour  for  VefTels  of  the  greateft  burden. 
About  tvi^o  miles  on  this  Coaft  further  South 
is  Loch-fnifort  \  it"'s  three  miles  in  length,  and 
half  a  mile  in  breadth.;  it  is  free  from  Rocks, 
and  has  convenient  Anchorage.^ 

O  N  the  Weft  fide  the  Promontory,  at  the 
mouth  of  Loch-fmfortj  lies  Loch-arnifort^  being 
about  two  miles ,  in  length,  and  half  a  mile  in 
breadth  :  there  are  two  fmall  Ifles  in  the  mouth 
of  the  Entry,  and  a  Rock  near  the  Weft  fide, 
a  little  within  the  Entry. 

SOME  five  miles  to  the  Weft  o^ Jrmfon 
lies  Loch-falUrt ;  the  Entry  is  between  Vdterms- 
head  on  the  Eaft  fide,  and  Dunvegan-head  on  the 
Weft  fide.  The  Loch  is  fix  miles  in  length,  and 
about'^  league  in  breadth  for  fome  miles  :  it 

hath 


ij8    ^Description  o/rk 

hath  the  Ifland  Ifa,  about  the  middle,  on  the 
Eaft  fide.  There  is  a  Rock  between  the  North 
end  and  the  Land,  and  there  VefTels  may  anchor 
between  the  N.  E.  fide  of  the  Ifle  and  the  Land  • 
there  is  alfo  good  Anchorage  near  Dunvegm- 
Cafl:le,  two  miles  further  to  the  Southward. 

LOCH'BRJK^DIL  lies  two  miles  South 
of  Loch-fallan  ;  it  is  feven  miles  in  length,  and 
has  feveral  good  Anchoring-places :  on  the 
North  fide  the  Entry  lie  two  Rocks,  call'd 
MackleocPs  Mnideris.  About  three  miles  South- 
weft  is  Loch-einardj  a  mile  in  length ;  it  has  a 
Rock  in  the  Entry,  and  is  not  vifible  but  at 
an  Ebb. 

ABOUT  two  miles  to  the  Eaft  ward,  there 
is  an  Anchoring-place  for  Barks,  between  Skie 
and  the  Ifle  Soa. 

ABOUT  a  League  further  Eaft  lie  Loch- 
flapan  and  Loch-ejfort ;  the  firft  reaches  about 
four  miles  to  the  North,  and  the  fecond  about 
fix  miles  to  the  Eaft. 

THERE  are  feveral  Mountains  in  the  Ifle 
of  a  confiderable  height  and  extent ;  as  Quillin^ 
Scornifejy  Bein-fiore^  Bein-vore-jcowe^  Bein-chroy 
Bem-nWy  KjtilUch :  fome  of  them  are  cover'd 
with  Snow  on  the  top  in  Summer,  others  are 
almoft  quite  cover'd  with  Sand  in  tl^  top, 
which  is  much  wafh'd  down  with  the  great 

Rains. 


Weftern  IJtands  of  Scotland.        i  ^  p 

Rains.  All  thefe  Mountains  abound  with 
Heath  and  Grafs,  which  ferve  as  good  Paftu- 
rage  for  black  Cattle  and  Sheep. 

THE  Quillin,  which  exceeds  any  of  thofe 
Hills  in  height,  is  faid  to  be  the  caufe  of  much 
Rain,  by  breaking  the  Clouds  that  hover  about 
it ;  which  quickly  after  pour  down  in  Rain  up- 
on the  quarter  on  which  the  Wind  then  blows. 
There  is  a  high  Ridge  of  one  continu'd  Moun- 
tain of  confiderable  height,  and  fifteen  miles  in 
length,  running  along  the  middle  of  the  Eaft 
Wing  of  Skie,  call'd  Troternefs  ;  and  that  part 
above  the  Sea  is  faced  with  a  fteep  Rock. 

THE  arable  Ground  is  generally  along  the 
Coaft,  and  in, the  Valleys  between  the  Moun- 
tains, having  always  a  River  running  in  the 
middle ;  the  Soil  is  very  grateful  to  the  Husband- 
man. I  have  been  fhew'd  feveral  places  that  had 
not  been  till'd  for  feven  Years  before,  which 
yielded  a  good  Produft  of  Oats  by  digging,  tho 
the  Ground  was  notdung'd  ;  particularly  near 
the  Village  Kjhnartin,  which  the  Natives  told 
me  had  not  been  dung'd  thefe  forty  Years  laft. 
Several  pieces  of  Ground  yield  twenty,  and 
fome  thirty  fold,  when  dung'd  with  Sea-ware. 
I  had  an  account,  that  a  fmall  Traft  of  Ground 
in  the  Village  Skerjbreck^  yielded  an  hundred 
fold  of  Barley. 

THE  Ifle  of  Altig^  which  is  generally  co- 
ver'd  with  Heath,   being  manur'd  with  Sea- 
ware, 


14P     ^  DeS  CRI  PTION    o/  ^/;e 

ware,  the  Owner  fowM  Barley  in  the  Ground, 
and  it  yielded  a  very  good  Produd ;  many 
Stalks  had  five  Ears  growing  upon  them.  In 
plentiful  Years,  Skie  furnifhes  the  oppofite  Con- 
tinent with  Oats  and  Barley.  The  way  of 
Tillage  here  is  after  the  fame  manner  that  is 
already  defcrib'd  in  the  Ifles  of  Lfir/5,  8rc.  and 
digging  doth  always  produce  a  better  Increafe 
here  than  ploughing. 

ALL  the  Mountains  in  this  Ifle  are  plenti- 
fully furnirh'd  with  variety  of  excellent  Springs 
and  Fountains ;  fome  of  them  have  Rivulets, 
with  Water-Mills  upon  them.     The  moft  ce- 
lebrated Well  in  Skie,  is  Loch-ftmt  Well ;  it  is 
much  frequented  by  Strangers,  as  well  as  by 
the  Inhabitants  of  the  Ifle,  who  generally  be- 
lieve it  to  be  a  Specifick  for  feveral  Difeafes ; 
fuch  as  Stitches,  Head-aches,  Stone,  Confump 
tions,  Megrim.     Several  of  the  common  Peo- 
ple oblige  themfelves  by  a  Vow  to  come  to  this. 
Well,  and  make  the  ordinary  Tour  about  it, 
call'd  Defjii,  which  is  perform'd  thus  :    They 
move  thrice  round  the  Well,  proceeding  Sun- 
ways  from  Eaft  to  Well,  and  fo  on.     This  is 
done  after  drinking  of  the  Water;  and  when 
one  goes  away  from  the  Well,  it's  a  never-failing 
Cuftom,  to  leave  fome  fmall  Offering  on  the 
Stone  which  covers  the  Well.     There  are  nine 
Springs  ilTuing  out  of  the  Hill  above  the  Well, 
and  all  of  them  pay  the  Tribute  of  theirWater 
to  a  Rivulet  that  falls  from  the- Well.   *rhere 

is 


Wefiern  IJlands  of  Scotland.      141 

is  a  little  frefh- water  Lake  within  ten  Yards 
of  the  faid  Well ;  it  abounds  with  Trouts,  but 
neither  the  Natives  nor  Strangers  will  ever  pre- 
fume  to  deftroy  any  of  them,  fuch  is  the 
Efteem  they  have  for  the  Water. 

THERE  is  a  fmall  Coppice  near  to  the 
Well,  and  there  is  none  of  the  Natives  dare 
venture  to  cut  the  leaft  Branch  of  it,  for  fear 
of  fome  fignal  Judgment  to  follow  upon  it. 

THERE  are  many  Wells  here  efteem'd  ef- 
fefliual    to  remove  feveral  Diftempers.     The 
lighteft  and  wholefomeft  Water  in  all  the  Ifleas 
that  of  Tof2l?ir  Tellibreck  ia  Vge :  the  Natives  fay 
that  the  Water  of  this  Well,  and  the  Sea-plant 
call'd  Dulfey  would  ferve  inftead  of  Food  for  a 
confiderable  time,  and  own  that  they  have  ex- 
perienc'd  it  in  time  of  War.     I  faw  a  little 
Well  in  KJlbride  in  the  South  of  Skie^  with  one 
Trout  only  in  it ;  the  Natives  are  very  tender  of 
it,  and  tho  they  often  chance  to  catch  it  in  their 
wooden  Pales,  they  are  very  careful  to  preferve 
it  from  being  deftroy'd  ;  it  has  been  feen  there 
for  many  Years:  there  is  a  Rivulet  not  far 
diftant  from  the  Well,  to  which  it  hath  proba- 
bly had  accefs  thro  fome  narrow  Paflage. 

THERE  are  many  Rivers  on  all  quarters 
of  the  Ifle,  about  jo  of  'em  afford  Salmon,  arid 
fome  of  'em  black  Mufcels,  in  which  Pearl  do 
breed*,  particularly  the  River  of  IQlmanm,  ^.nd 

the 


1 4  i     ^  D  E  S  C  R  I  P  T  I O  N    0/  f /;^ 

the  River  Ord,  The  Proprietor  told  me,  that 
fome  Years  ago  a  Pearl  had  been  taken  out  of 
the  former,  valu'd  at  20  /.  Sterling.  There  are 
feveral  Catarafts,  as  that  in  Sker-horeny  Holm^ 
Rig  and  Tont.  When  a  River  makes  a  great 
noife  in  time  of  fair  Weather,  it's  a  fure  Prog- 
nollick  here  of  Rain  to  enfue. 

THERE  are  many  frelli- water  Lakes  in 
Skie^  and  generally  well  ftock'd  with  Trout  and 
Eels.  The  common  Fly  and  the  Earth-worms 
are  ordinarily  ufed  for  angling  Trout ;  the  beft 
Seafon  for  it  is  a  Calm,  or  a  South- weft  Wind. 

THE  largeft  of  the  frefh-water  Lakes  is 
that  named  after  St.  Columhm^  on  the  account 
of  the  Chappel  dedicated  to  that  Saint ;  it 
ftands  in  the  Ifle,  about  the  middle  of  the 
Lake. 

T  H  E  R  E  is  a  little  frefh-water  Lake  near 
the  South  fide  of  Loch-einordftardj  m  which 
Mufcles  grow  that  breed  Pearl. 

THIS  Ifle  hath  antiently  been  cover'd  all 
over  with  Woods,  as  appears  from  the  great 
Trunks  of  Fir-trees,  &c.  dug  out  of  the  Bogs 
frequently,  d^c  There  are  feveral  Coppices  of 
Wood,  fcatter'd  up  and  down  the  Ifle;  the 
largefl:  calPd  Lettir-hurr,  exceeds  not  three 
miles  in  length. 

HER^ 


Weflern  IJlands  of  Scotland.      142 

HERRINGS  are  often  taken  in  moft  or 
all  the  Bays  mention'd  above  :  Loch-ejfort,  SU- 
fan,  Loch-fa/Iarty  Loch-fcowfar,  and  the  J<^^le  of 
Scalpay  are  generally  known  to  Strangers,  for 
the  great  quantities  of  Herring  taken  in  them. 
This  fort  of  Fifli  is  commonly  {eQn  without  the 
Bays,  and  on  the  Coaft  all  the  Summer.  All 
other  Fifh  follow  the  Herring  and  their  Fry, 
from  the  Whale  to  the  leaft  Fifh  that  fwims ; 
the  biggeft  ftill  deftroying  the  leffer. 

THE  Fifhers  and  others  told  me,  that  there 
is  a  big  Herring  almoft  double  the  fize  of  any  of 
ks  kind,  which  leads  all  that  are  in  a  Bay,  and 
the  Shoal  follows  it  wherever  it  goes.  This 
Leader  is  by  the  Fifhers  call'd  the  King  of 
Herring,  and  when  they  chance  to  catch  it 
alive,  they  drop  it  carefully  into  the  Sea  ;  for 
they  judg  it  Petty  Treafon  to  deftroy  a  Fifli  of 
that  name. 

THE  Fifhers  fay,  that  all  forts  of  Fifh, 
from  the  greatefl  to  the  leaft,  have  a  Leader, 
who  is  follow'd  by  all  of  its  kind. 

IT  is  a  general  Obfervation  all  Scotland 
over,  that  if  a  Quarrel  happen  on  the  Coafl 
where  Herring  is  caught,  and  that  Blood  be 
drawn  violently,  then  the  Herring  go  away 
from  the  Coaff,  without  returningduring  that 
Seafon.     This,  they  fay,  has  been  obferv'd  in 

all 


1 44     ^Description  of  the 

all  paft  Ages,  as  well  as  at  prefent ;  but  this  I 
relate  only  as  a  common  Tradition,  and  fub- 
,mit  it  to  t;lie  Judgment  of  the  Learned. 

THfi  'Natives  preferve  and  dry  their  Her- 
ring without  Salt,  for  the  fpace  of  eight 
Months,  provided  they  be  taken  after  the  tenth 
of  September  :  they  ufe  no  other  Art  in  it,  but 
'take  out  their  Guts,  and  then  tying  a  Ruili 
^bout  their  necks,  hang  them  by  pairs  upon  a 
Rope  made  of  Heath  crofs  a  Houfe  ;  and  they 
eat  well,  and  free  from  Put  refaction,  after 
eight  months  keeping  in  this  manner.  Cod, 
Ling,  Herring,  Mackrel,  Haddock,  Whiting, 
Turbar,  together  with  all  other  Filli  that  are 
in  the  Scots  Seas,  abound  on  the  Coalh  of  this 
iQand. 

THE  beft  time  of  taking  Fifli  with  an 
Angle  is  in  warm  Weather,  which  difpofes 
them  to  come  near  the  Surface  of  the  Water ; 
whenas  in  cold  Westher,  or  Rain,  they  go  to 
the  bottom.  The  beft  Bait  for  Cod  and  Ling 
is  a  piece  of  Herring,  Whiting,  Thornback, 
Haddock,  or  Eel.  The  Grey-Lord,  alias 
Black-mouth,  a  Fifli  of  the  fize  and  fhape  of  a 
Salmon,  takes  the  Limpet  for  Bait.  There  is 
another  way  of  angling  for  this  Fifli,  by  faft- 
ning  a  Hiort  white  Down  of  a  Goofe  behind  the 
Hook  ;  and  the  Boat  being  continually  row'd, 
the  Fifh  run  greedily  after  the  Down,  and  are 
eafily  caught/    The  Grey-Lord  fwims  in  the 

Surface 


Wejlern  Iflands  of  Scotland.        145: 

Surface  of  the  Water,  and  then  is  caught  with 
a  Spear ;  a  Rope  being  ty'd  to  the  further  end 
of  it,  and  fecur'd  in  the  Fiflierman's  hand. 

ALL  the  Bays  and  Places  of  Anchorage 
here  abound  with  moft  kinds  of  Shell-filh. 
The  Kjfle  of  Scdpa,  affords  Oyfters  in  fuch 
plenty,  that  commonly  a  Spring-Tide  of  Ebb 
leaves  fifteen,  fometimes  twenty  Horfe-load  of 
them  on  the  Sands. 

THE  Sands  on  the  Coafl  of  Bemfiill  Village 
at  the  Spring-Tides  afford  daily  fuch  plenty  of 
Mufcles,  as  is  fufficient  to  maintain  fixty  Per- 
fons/'crday :  and  this  was  a  great  Support  to 
many  poor  Families  of  the  Neighbourhood,  in 
the  late  Years  of  Scarcity.  The  Natives  ob- 
ferve  that  all  Shell-fifli  are  plumper  at  the  In- 
creafe  than  Decreafe  of  the  Moon  ;  they  ob- 
ferve  like  wife  that  all  Shell-fifh  are  plumper 
during  a  South-weft  Wind,  than  when  it  blows 
from  the  North  or  North-eaft  Quarters. 

THE  Limpet  being  parboil'd  with  a  very 
little  quantity  of  Water,  the  Broth  is  drank  to 
increafe  Milk  in  Nurfes,  and  likewife  when  the 
Milk  proves  aftringent  to  the  Infants.  The 
Broth  of  the  black  Periwinkle  is  ufed  in  the 
fame  cafes.  It's  obferv'd,  that  Limpets  being 
frequently  eat  injune^  are  apt  to  occafion  the 
Jaundice ;  the  Outfide  of  the  Fifh  is  coloured 
like  the  Skin  of  a  Perfon  that  has  the  Jaundice : 
K  the 


\^6      .^Description  0/  tk 

the  tender  yellow  part  of  the  Limpet,  which 
is  next  to  the  Shell,  is  reckon'd  good  Nourifh- 
meni:,  and  very  eafy  of  Digeftion. 

I  HAD  an  Account  of  a  poor  Woman,  who 
was  a  Native  of  the  Ifle  of  ^uya^  and  by  the 
Troubles  in  King  Charles  the  Firft's  Reign  was 
almoit  red'jc'd  to  a  fl:arving  Condition  ;  fo  that 
fhe  loft  her  Milk  quite,  by  which  her  Infant 
had  nothing  proper  for  its  Suftenance :  upon 
this  file  boiPd  fome  of  the  tender  Fat  of  the 
Limpets,  and  gave  it  to  her  Infant,  to  whom 
it  became  fo  agreeable,  that  it  had  no  other 
Food  for  feveral  Months  together  ;  and  yet 
there  was  not  a  Child  in  J^r/a,  or  any  of  the 
adjacent  liles,  wholefomer  than  this  poor  In- 
fant, which  was  expos'd  to  fo  great  a  Strait. 

THE  Limpet  creeps  on  the  Stone  and  Rock 

in  the  niglit-time,  and  in  a  warm  Day  ;  but  if 
any  thing  touch  the  Shell,  it  inftantly  clings  to 
the  Stone,  and  then  no  hand  is  able  to  pluck  it 
oit  widiout  fome  Iniirument :  and  therefore 
inch  as  take  'em  have  little  Hammers,  call'd 
Limpet-hammers,  with  which  they  beat  it 
from  the  Rock  ;  but  if  they  watch  its  motion, 
and  farprize  ir,-  the  leaft  1  ouch  of  the  Hand 
pulls  it  away  :  and  this  tliat  is  taken  creeping, 
they  fay,  is  larger  and  better  than  that  which 
is  puli'd  oif  byVorce.  The  Motion,  Fixation, 
Tafte  and  Feeding,  6^c.  of  this  little  Animal 
being  very  curious,  I  have  here  exhibited  its 

Figure, 


Weftern  Iftands  of  Scotland.         147 

Figure,  for  the  fatisfaftion  of  the  inquifitive 
Reader. 

I  HAVE  likewife  here  exhibited  the  Figm-e 
of  the  Balanos,  growing  on  Stone  and  Shells ; 
in  which,  very  fmalls  Wtlks  are  found  to  lodg 
and  grow. 

THE  pale  Wilk^  which  in  length  and  fmall- 
nefs  exceeds  the  black  Periwinkle,  and  by  the 
Natives  call'd  Gil-funty  is  by  them  beat  in 
pieces,  and  both  Shell  and  Fifli  boil'd ;  the 
Broth  being  ftrain'd,  and  drank  for  fome  days 
together,  is  accounted  a  good  Remedy  againft 
the  Stone :  it  is  calPd  a  Dead-Mari^s-Eye  2it 
Dover.  It  is  obferv'd  of  Cockles  and  Spout- 
iifh,  that  they  go  deeper  in  the  Sands  with 
North  Winds,  than  any  other ;  and  on  the 
contrary,  they  are  eafier  reach'd  with  South 
Winds,  which  are  ftill  warmeft. 

I T  is  a  general  Obfervation  of  all  fuch  as 
live  on  the  Sea-Coaft,  that  they  are  more  pro- 
lifick  than  any  other  People  whatfoever. 


K  2  rk 


14^     ^  Descriptio  N  o/ t/je 


Tl?e  Sea-Tlants  here,  are  as  follows, 

LJN/IRICH,  a  very  thin  fmall  green 
Plant,  about  eight,  ten,  or  twelve  inches 
in  length  ;  it  grows  on  Stone,  on  Shells,  and 
on  the  bare  Sand.  This  Plant  is  apply'd 
Plaiftcr-wife  to  the  Forehead  and  Temples, 
to  procure  Sleep  for  fuch  as  have  a  Fever, 
and  they  fay  it  is  effedual  for  this  pur- 
pofc. 

THE  Linarich  is  hkewife  apply'd  to  the 
Crown  of  the  Head  and  Temples,  for  re- 
moving the  Megrim,  and  alfo  to  heal  the 
Skin     after     a    Blifter-Plaifter   of    tUmmuU 

SLAK^E^  a  very  thin  Plant,  almoft  round, 
about  ten  or  twelve  inches  in  circumference, 
grows  on  the  Rocks  and  Sands ;  the  Natives 
eat  it  boiPd,  and  it  dilTolves  into  Oil:  they 
fay,  that  if  a  little  Butter  be  added  to  it, 
one  might  live  many  Years  on  this  alone, 
without  Bread,  or  any  other  Food,  and  at  the 
fame  time  undergo  any  laborious  Exercife. 
I'hjs  Plant,  boil'd  with  fome  Butter,  is  given 
to  Cows  ia  the  Spring,  to  remove  Coilive- 
n::;is. 

DVLSE 


Wejlern  Iflands  of  Scotland.       149 

DVLSE  is  of  a  reddifh  bcown  colour,  a 
bout  tenor  twelve  inches  long,  and  above  half 
an  inch  in  breadth:  it  is  eat  raw,  and  then  rec- 
koned to  be  loofening,  and  very  good  for  the 
Sight ;  but  if  boiPd,  it  proves  more  loofening, 
if  the  Juice  be  drank  with  it.  This  Plant  ap- 
ply'd  Plaifter-wife  to  the  Temples,  is  reckon  d 
effedual  againft  the  Megrim  :  the  Plant  boil'd, 
and  eat  with  its  Infufion,  is  ufed  againil  the 
Cholick  and  Stone  ;  and  dry'd  without  wafl:- 
ing  it  in  water,  pulveriz'd  and  given  in  any 
convenient  Vehicle  fafting,  it  kills  Worms: 
the  Natives  eat  it  boil'd  with  Butter,  and  rec- 
kon it  very  wholefom.  The  Dulj'e  recommen- 
ded here,  is  that  which  grows  on  Stone,  and 
not  that  which  grows  on  the  Alga  AUrina^  or 
Sea-Tangle ;  for  tho  that  be  likewife  eaten,  it 
will  not  ferve  in  any  of  the  Cafes  above  men- 
tion'd. 

THE  Jlga  Mar  ma,  or  Sea-Tangle,  or,  as  fome 
call  it,  Sea-)vare,  is  a  Rod  about  tour,  fix,  eight 
or  ten  foot  long  ;  having  at  the  end  a  Blade 
comiPxOnly  flit  into  feven  or  eight  pieces,  and 
about  a  foot  and  half  in  length  :  it  grows  on 
Stone,  the  Blade  is  eat  by  the  vulgar  Natives. 
I  had  an  account  of  a  young  Man  who  had  loft 
his  Appetite,  and  taken  Pills  to  no  purpofe ;  and 
being  advis'd  to  boil  the  Blade  of  the  Jlga,  and 
drink  the  Infufion  boiPd  with  a  little  Butter, 
was  reftor'd  to  his  former  State  of  Health. 

K  I  THERE 


1  yo    ^Description  of  the 

THERE  is  abundance  of  white  and  red 
Coral  growing  on  the  South  and  Weil:  Coail 
of  this  Ifle ;  it  grows  on  the  Rocks,  and  is 
frequently  interwoven  with  the  Roots  of  the 
Jlga :  the  red  feems  to  be  a  good  frelh  Co- 
lour when  firft  taken  out  of  the  Sea,  but  in  a 
few  hours  after  it  becomes  pale.  Some  of  the 
Natives  take  -a  quantity  of  the  red  Coral, 
adding  the  Yolk  of  an  Egg  roafted  to  it,  for 
the  Diarrhea.  Both  the  red  and  white  Coral 
here  is  not  above  five  inches  long,  and  about 
the  bignefs  of  a  Goofe-Quill. 

THERE  are  many  Caves  to  be  feen  on 
each  quarter  of  this  Ifle,  fome  of  them  are 
believ'd  to  be  feveral  miles  in  length :  there 
is  a  big  Cave  in  the  Village  Bornskittag^  which 
is  fupposM  to  exceed  a  mile  in  length.  The 
Natives  told  me  that  a  Piper,  who  was  over- 
curious,  went  into  the  Cave  with  a  defign  to 
find  out  the  length  of  it ;  and  after  he  enter'd, 
began  to  play  on  his  Pipe,  but  never  return'd 
to  give  an  account  of  his  Progrefs. 

THERE  is  a  Cave  in  the  Village  Kjgg, 
wherein  Drops  of  Water  that  ilTue  trom  the 
Roof  petrify  into  a  white  limy  Subftance, 
and  hang  down  from  the  Roof  and  Sides  of 
fhe  Cave» 

THERE 


Wejiem  JJlands  of  Scotland.        i  v  i 

THERE  is  a  Cave  in  the  Village  Holw, 
having  many  petrify'd  Twigs  iianging  from 
the  top  ;  they  are  hollow  from  one  end  to  tlie 
other,  and  from  five  to  ten  inches  in  length. 

THERE  is  a  big  Cave  in  the  Rock  on  the 
Eaft  fide  of  Portry,  large  enough  for  eighty 
Perfons  :  there  is  a  Well  within  it,  which,  to- 
gether with  its  Situation  and  narrow  Entry, 
renders  it  an  inacceffible  Fort ;  one  Man  only 
can  enter  it  at  a  time,  by  the  fide  of  a  Pvock, 
fo  that  with  a  Staff  in  his  hand  he  is  able 
by  the  leaft  touch  to  cafi:  over  the  Rock  as 
many  as  fhall  attempt  to  come  into  the 
Cave. 

ON  the  South  fide  Loch-Porfry^  there  is  a 
large  Cave,  in  which  many  Sea-Cormorants  do 
build  :  the  Natives  carry  a  bundle  of  Straw  to 
the  door  of  the  Cave  in  the  night-time,  and 
there  fetting  it  on  fire,  the  Fowls  fly  with  all 
fpeed  to  the  Light,  and  fo  are  caught  in  Baskets 
laid  for  that  purpofe.  The  Golden  Cave  in 
Sleat  is  faid  to  be  feven  miles  in  length,  from 
the  Weil:  to  Eaft. 

THERE  are  many  Cairns,  or  Heaps  of 
Stones  in  this  Ifland.  Some  of  the  Natives  fay 
they  were  ereded  in  the  times  of  Heathemfm, 
and  that  the  antient  Inhabitants  worflfip'd  a- 
bout  them.  In  Popilli  Countries,  the  People 
K  4  ftill 


15^    ^Description  of  the 

flill  retain  the  antient  Cuftom  of  making  a 
Tour  round  them. 

OTHERS  fay,  thefe  Cairns  were  ereaed 
where  Perfons  of  Diftinction,  kill'd  in  Battle, 
had  been  bury'd,  and  that  their  Urns  were  laid 
m  the  ground  under  the  Cairns.  I  had  an 
account  of  a  Cairn  in  Kt^ufdde  in  the  Shire  of 
Jrgyle^  underneath  which  an  Urn  was  found. 
There  are  little  Cairns  to  be  (t^n  in  fome 
places  on  the  common  Road,  which  were  made 
only  where  Corps  happened  to  reft  for  fome 
minutes  ;  but  they  have  laid  afide  the  making 
fuch  Cairns  now. 

THERE  is  an  creeled  Stone  in  Kjlbrtde  in 
Strath^  which  is  ten  foot  high,  and  one  and 
a  half  broad. 

THERE  is  another  of  five  foot  hieh 
plac'd  in  the  middle  of  the  Cairn,  on  ^he 
South  fide  Loch-Vgcy  and  is  call'd  the  high 
Stone  of  Vge. 

THERE  are  three  fuch  Stones  on  the  Sea- 
Coaft  oppofite  to  Skerimfs,  each  of  them  three 
foot  high  :  the  Natives  laave  a  Tradition,  that 
upon  thefe  Stones  a  big  Caldron  was  {^t,  for 
boiling  Ff7/-Mac-Co»Ps  Meat.  This  Gigantick 
Man  is  reported  to  have  been  General  of  a 
Militia  that  came  from  Spam  to  Ireland^  and 
from  thence  to  thofe  Ifles :  all  his  Soldiers  are 

call'd 


Wefiern  Ifiamh  of  Scotland.       i  ^  ^ 

calPd  Benty  from  Fiun,  He  is  believ'd  to  have 
arriv'd  in  the  Ifles,  in  the  Reign  of  King  Evan : 
the  Natives  have  many  Stories  of  this  General 
and  his  Army,  with  which  I  will  not  trouble 
the  Reader.  He  is  mention'd  in  Bidiop  Le[ly*% 
Hiftory. 

THERE  are  many  Forts  ere£led  on  the 
Coaft  of  this  Ifle,  and  fuppos'd  to  have  been 
built  by  the  Dar?es :  they  are  calPd  by  the 
name  of  Dun^  from  Daw^  which  in  the  antient 
Language  fignityM  a  Fort ;  they  are  round  in 
form,  and  they  have  a  PalTage  all  round  with- 
in the  Wall :  the  Door  of  'em  is  low,  and  ma- 
ny of  the  Stones  are  of  fuch  bulk,  that  no 
number  of  the  prefent  Inhabitants  could  raife 
them  without  an  Engine. 

ALL  thefe  Forts  ftand  upon  Eminences, 
and  are  fo  difpos'd,  that  there  is  not  one  of 
them,  which  is  not  in  view  of  fome  other ; 
and  by  this  means,  when  a  Fire  is  made  upon  a 
Beacon  in  any  one  Fort,  it's  in  a  few  moments 
after  communicated  to  all  the  reft :  and  this 
hath  been  always  obferv'd  upon  fight  of  any 
number  of  foreign  Veflels,  or  Boats  approach- 
ing the  Coaft. 

THE  Forts  are  commonly  named  after  the 
place  where  they  are,  or  the  Perfon  that  built 
them  ;  as  Dan-Skudborg^  Du/^-Derig,  Dun-Ske- 
rmefsy  Dun-David^  8cc. 

THERE 


154     ^  DeS  CRI  PTI  O  N  o/ f/;e 

THERE  are  feveral  little  ftone  Houfes, 
built  under  ground,  calPd  Earth-houfes,  which 
ferv'd  to  hide  a  few  People  and  their  Goods  in 
time  of  War ;  the  Entry  to  them  was  on  the 
Sea  or  River-fide  :  there  is  one  of  them  in  the 
Village  Lachfajy  and  another  in  Camjlmvag, 

THERE  are  feveral  little  ftone  Houfes 
built  above  ground,  capable  only  of  one  Per- 
fon,  and  round  in  form  ;  one  of  'em  is  to  be 
feen  in  Ponry,  another  at  Lincroy  and  at  Cu- 
lukfiock  :  they  are  call'd  Tey-nin-druimch,  i.  e. 
Druids'houfe.  Druinich  figniiies  a  retired  Per- 
fon,  much  devoted  to  Contemplation. 

THE  Fewel  ufed  here  is  Peats  dug  out  of 
the  Heaths  :  there  are  Cakes  of  Iron  found  in 
the  Alhes  of  fome  of  'em,  and  at  Flodgerj  Vil- 
lage there  are  Peats  from  which  Salt-peter 
fparkles.  There  is  a  Coal  lately  difcover'd  at 
Holm  in  Portrj,  fome  of  which  I  have  feen  ; 
there  are  pieces  of  Coal  dug  out  likewife  of 
the  Sea-Sand  in  Helderfl-a  of  Vaternisy  and  fome 
found  in  the  Village  Mogftat. 

THE  Cattel  produc'd  here  are  Horfes, 
Cows,  Sheep,  Goats  and  Hogs.  The  common 
Work-Horfes  are  expos'd  to  the  Rigour  of  the 
Seafon  during  the  Winter  and  Spring  ;  and  tho 
they  have  neither  Corn,  Hay,  or  but  feldom 
Straw,  yet  they  undergo. all  the  Labour  that 
other  Horfes  better  treated  are  liable  to. 

THE 


Wejlern  JJlands  of  Scotland.        i  5  j 

THE  Cows  are  likewife  expos'd  to  the  Ri- 
gour of  the  coldeft  Seafons,  and  become  mere 
Skeletons  in  the  Spring,  many  of  them  not  be- 
ing able  to  rife  from  the  ground  without  help  ; 
but  they  recover  as  the  Seafon  becomes  more 
favourable,  and  the  Grafs  grows  up :  then  they 
acquire  new  Beef,  which  is  both  fweet  and 
tender  ;  the  Fat  and  Lean  is  not  fo  much  fepa- 
rated  in  them  as  in  other  Cows,  but  as  it  were 
larded,  which  renders  it  very  agreeable  to  the 
Tafte.     A  Cow  in  this  Ifle  may  be  twelve 
Years  old,  when  at  the  fame  time  its  Beef  is 
not  above  four,  live,  or  fix  Months  old.    When 
a  Calf  is  (lain,  it's  an  ufual  Cuftom  to  cover 
another  Calf  with  its  Skin,  to  fuck  the  Cow 
whofe  Calf  hath  been  llain,  or  elfe  fhe  gives  no 
Milk,  nor  fuffers  her  felf  to  be  approach'd  by 
anybody;  and  if  flie  difcover  the  Cheat,  then 
file  grows  enrag'd  for  fome  days,  and  the  laft 
Remedy  ufed  to  pacify  her,  is  to  ufe  the  fweet- 
eft  Voice,  and  fing  all  the  time  of  milking  her. 
"When  any  Man  is  troubled  witli  his  Neigh- 
bours Cows,  by  breaking  into  his  Inclofures, 
he  brings  all  to  the  utmoft  Boundary  of  his 
Ground,    and    there  drawing  a  quantity  of 
Blood  from  each  Cow,  he  leaves  them  upon 
the  fpot,  from  whence  they  go  away,  without 
ever  returning  again  to  trouble  him,  during  all 
that  Sealon.     The  Cows  often  feed  upon  the 
Jlga  Marma^  or  Sea- ware ;  and  they  can  ex- 
aaly  diftinguilli  the  Tide   of  Ebb  from  the 

Tide 


1^6    J"  Descrivt ION  of  the 

Tide  of  Flood,  tho  at  the  fame  time  they  are 
not  within  view  of  the  Sea  ;  and  if  one  meet 
them  running  to  the  Shore  at  the  Tide  of  Ebb, 
and  offer  to  turn  them  again  to  the  Hills  to 
graze,  they  will  not  return.     When  the  Tide 
has  ebbM  about  two  hours,  fo  as  to  uncover  the 
Sea-ware,  then  they  fteer  their  courfe  diredtly 
tothe  neareft  Coaft,  in  their  ufual  Order,  one 
after  another,   whatever    their   number    be : 
there  are  as  many  Inftances  of  this,  as  there  are 
Tides  of  Ebb  on  the  fhore.     I  had  occafion  to 
make  this  Obfervation  thirteen  times  in  one 
Week ;  for  tho  the  Natives  gave  me  repeated 
AfTurances  of  the  Truth  of  it,  I  did  not  fully 
believe  it,  till  I  faw  many  Inftances  of  it  in  my 
Travels  along  the  Coaft.     The  Natives  have  a 
Remark,  that  when  the  Cows  belonging  to  one 
Perfon  do  of  a  fudden  become  very  irregular, 
and  run  up  and  down  the  fields,  and  make  a 
loud  noife,  without  any  vifible  caufe,  that  it  is 
a  Prefage  of  the  Mafter's  or  Miftrefs's  Death  ; 
of  which  there  were  feveral  late  Inftances  given 
me.     James  Mackdonald  of  Ca^fiil  having  been 
kiird  at  the  Battle  of  Kjlicrankj,  it  was  obfer- 
ved  that  night,  that  his  Cows  gave  Blood  in- 
ftead  of  Milk  ;  his^  Family  and  other  Neigh- 
bours concluded  this  a  bad  Omen.     The  Mi- 
nifter  of  the  Place,   and  the  Miftrefs  of  the 
Cows,  together  with  feveral  Neighbours,  af- 
fured  me  of  the  Truth  of  this. 

THERE 


Wejleni  IJhnds  of  Scotland.      157 

THERE  was  a  Calf  brought  forth  mya- 
ternis  without  Legs;  it  leap'd  very  far,  bel- 
lowM  louder  than  any  other  Calf,  and  drank 
much  more  Milk  :  at  laft  the  Owner  kill'd  it. 
Kjnneth  the  Carpenter,  who  lives  there,  told 
me  that  he  had  feen  the  Calf.  I  was  alfo  in- 
form'd,  that  a  Cow  in  Vater?7is  brought  forth 
five  Calves  at  a  time,  of  which  three  died. 

THERE  was  a  Calf  at  Skerir.efs,  having 
all  its  Legs  double,  but  the  Bones  had  but  one 
Skin  to  cover  both ;  the  Owner  fancying  it  to 
be  ominous,  kill'd  it,  after  having  lived  nine 
Months.  Several  of  the  Natives  there-abouts 
told  me  that  they  had  feen  it. 

THERE  are  feveral  Calves  that  have  a  flit 
in  the  top  of  their  Ears,  and  thefe  the  Natives 
fancy  to  be  the  IlTue  of  a  wild  Bull,  that  comes 
from  the  Sea  or  frefh  Lakes ;  and  this  Calf  is 
by  them  calFd  Corky-fyre, 

THERE'S  plenty  of  Land  and  Water- 
Fowl  in  this  Ifle ;  as  Hawks,  Eagles  of  two 
kinds,  the  one  grey  and  of  a  larger  fize,  the 
other  much  lefs  and  black,  but  more  deftru£live 
to  young  Cattle  ;  Black-cock,  Heath-hen,  Plo- 
vers, Pigeons,  Wild-Geefe,  Tarmagan,  and 
Cranes  :  of  this  latter  fort,  I  have  feen  fixty  on 
the  fhore  in  a  Flock  together.  The  Sea-Fowls 
are  Malls  of  all  kinds,    Coulterneb,  Guilla- 

mot, 


158    ^'Description  of  the 

moc,  Sea-Cormorant,  &c.  The  Natives  ob- 
ferve  that  the  latter,  if  perfeftly  black,  makes 
no  good  Broth,  nor  is  its  Flefh  worth  eating  ; 
but  that  a  Cormorant,  which  has  any  white 
Feathers  or  Down,  makes  good  Broth,  and  the 
Fie  111  of  it  is  good  Food,  and  the  Broth  is 
ufually  drunk  by  Nurfes  to  increafe  their  Milk. 

THE  Natives  obferve,  that  this  Fowl  flut- 
ters with  its  Wings  towards  the  Quarter  from 
which  the  Wind  is  foon  after  to  blow. 

THE  Sea-Fowl  Bumvochily  or,  as  fome  Sea- 
men call  it,  Cardra,  and  others  Bijhop^  is  as  big 
as  a  Goofe,  of  a  brown  colour,  and  the  infide 
of  the  Wings  white  ;  the  Bill  is  long  and  broad, 
and  it  is  footed  like  a  Goofe  ;  it  dives  quicker 
than  any  other  Fowl  whatever,  it's  very  fat. 
The  Cafe  of  tliis  Fowl  being  flay'd  off  with  the 
Fat,  and  a  little  Salt  laid  on  to  preferve  it,  and 
.then  apply'd  to  the  Thigh-bone,  where  it  muft 
lie  for  fome  Weeks  together,  is  an  effedual 
Remedy  againft  the  Sciatica  j  of  which  I  faw 
two  Inlfances.  It  is  obferv'd  of  Fire-Arms 
that  are  rubb\i  over  (as  the  cuftom  is  here) 
with  the  Oil  or  Fat  of  Sea-Fowls,  that  they 
contract  Ruft  much  fooner,  than  when  done 
with  the  Fat  of  Land-Fowl ;  the  Fulmar-0]]. 
from  St.  Kjlda  only  excepted,  which  preferves 
Iron  from  contrading  Rull  much  longer  than 
any  other  Oil  or  Greafe  vv^hatfoever.  The- Na- 
tives obferve.,  that  when  the  Sea-Pye  warbles 

its 


Weft  em  I/lands  of  Scot\3.nd.       15^ 

its  Notes  incelTantly,  it  is  a  fure  Prefage  of  fair 
Weather  to  follow  in  a  few  hours  after. 

THE  AmfhihU  to  be  feen  in  this  Ifle,  are 
Seals,  Otters,  Vipers,  Frogs,  Toads  and  Afps. 
The  Otter  (liuts  its  Eyes  when  it  eats  ;  and  this 
is  a  confiderable  difadvantage  to  it,  for  then 
feveral  ravenous  Fowls  lay  hold  on  this  oppor- 
tunity, and  rob  it  of  its  Fifli. 

THE  Hunters  fay,  there  is  a  big  Otter 
above  the  ordinary  fize,  with  a  white  Spot  on 
its  Breaft,  and  this  they  call  the  King  of  Otters; 
it  is  rarely  feen,  and  very  hard  to  be  kill'd : 
Seamen  afcribe  great  Virtues  to  the  Skin  ;  for 
they  fay  that  it  is  fortunate  in  Battle,  and  that 
Vi(3:ory  is  always  on  its  fide.  Serpents  abound 
in  feveral  parts  of  this  Ifle ;  there  are  three 
kinds  of  them,  the  firft  black  and  white  fpot- 
tecj,  which  is  the  moft  poifonous,  and  if  a 
fpeedy  RenTedy  be  not  made  ufe  of  after  the 
"Wound  given,  the  Party  is  in  danger.  I  had 
an  account  that  a  Man  at  Glenmore^  a  Boy  at 
Portry,  and  a  Woman  at  Loch-fiah-vag^  did  all 
die  of  Wounds  given  by  this  fort  of  Serpents. 
Some  believe  that  the  Serpents  wound  with 
the  Sting  only,  and  not  with  their  Teeth ;  but 
this  Opinion  is  founded  upon  a  bare  Conjecture, 
becaufe  the  Sting  is  expofed  to  view,  but  ^the 
Teeth  very  rarely  feen  :  they  are  fecur'd  with- 
in a  Hofe  of  Fleih,  which  prevents  their  being 
broke  ;  the  end  of  them  being  hook'd  and  ex- 
ceeding 


\6o     ^Description  of  tJ?e 

ceeding  fmall,  would  foon  be  deftroy'd,  if  it 
had  not  been  for  this  Fence  that  Nature  has 
given  them.  The  longeft  of  the  black  Serpents 
mention'd  above,  is  from  two  to  three,  or  at 
moll:  four  foot  long. 

THE  yellow  Serpent  with  brown  Spots,  is 
not  fo  poifonous,  nor  fo  long  as  the  black  and 
white  one. 

THE  brown  Serpent  is  of  all  three  the  leaft 
poifonous,  and  fmalleft  and  fhortell  in  fize. 

THE  Remedies  ufed  here  to  extraQ:  the 
Poifon  of  Serpents,  are  various.  The  Rump 
of  a  Houfe-Cock  ftript  of  its  Feathers,  and 
applyM  to  the  Wound,  doth  powerfully  ex- 
trad  the  Poifon,  if  timely  apply'd.  The  Cock 
is  obferv'd  after  this  to  fwell  to  a  great  bulk, 
far  above  its  former  fize,  and  being  thrown  out 
into  the  Fields,  no  ravenous  Bird  or  Beaft  will 
ever  offer  to  taite  of  it. 

THE  fork'd  Sting  taken  out  of  an  Adder's 
Tongue,  is  by  the  Natives  fteep'd  in  water, 
with  which  they  wafli  and  cure  the  Wound. 

THE  Serpent's  Head  that  gives  the  Wound, 
being  apply'd,  is  found  to  be  a  good  Remedy. 

NEW  Cheefe  apply'd  timely,  extra8:s  the 
Poifon  well. 

THERE 


JVefiem  Iflmds  of  Scotland.      1 6  i 

THERE  are  two  forts  of  Weaps  in  the 
Ifle,  one  of  which  exceeds  that  of  the  common 
fize  in  bignefs ;  the  Natives  fay  that  the  breath 
of  it  kills  Calves,  and  Lambs,  and  that  the 
lefTer  fort  is  apt  to  occafion  a  decay  in  fuch  as 
frequently  have  them  tame  about  them ;  efpe- 
ciafly  fuch  as  fuffer  them  to  fuck  and  lick  about 
their  mouths. 


The  Inferiour  Ijles  about  S  K  I E. 

SOJ'BRETTIL  lies  within  a  quarter  of 
a  Mile  to  the  South  of  the  Mountain  fiv/7- 
lin;  it's  five  Miles  in  Circumference,  and  full 
of  Bogs,  and  fitter  for  Pafturage  than  Cultiva- 
tion. About  a  Mile  on  the  Weft  fide  it  is  co- 
ver'd  with  Wood,  and  the  reft  confifts  of  Heath 
and  Grafs,  having  a  mixture  of  the  Mertillo 
all  over.  The  Red  Garden-Curraritsgrow  in 
this  Ifle,  and  are  fuppos'd  to  have  been  carried 
thither  by  Birds.  There  has  been  no  Veno- 
mous Creature  ever  feen  in  this  little  Ifle,  until 
within  thefe  two  years  lafl,  that  a  black  and 
white  big  Serpent  was  feen  by  one  of  t*;e  Inha- 
bitants who  kill'd  it;  thfy  believe  it  came  From 
the  oppofite  Coaft  of  Skte^  where  there  are  ma- 
ny big  Serpents.  There  is  abundance  of  Cod 
and  Ling  round  this  Ifle. 

L  ON 


i6i     ^Description  ofthe 

0  N  the  South  of  Sleat  lies  Ifland  Oro/tfk, 
which  is  a  PeninfuU  at  Iqw  water ;  it's  a  Mile 
in  Circumference,  and  very  fruitful  in  Corn,  and 
Grafs.  As  for  the  latter,  it's  faid  to  excel  any 
piece  of  Ground  of  its  extent  in  thofe  Parts. 

1  N  the  North  Entry  to  K^yle-Akin^  lie  feve- 
ral  fmall  Ifles ;  the  biggeft  and  next  to  Skie  is 
lUn  Nin  Gillin^  about  half  a  Mile  in  Circum- 
ference, eover'd  all  over  with  long  Heath,  and 
the  Erica.  Baccifera  ;  there  is  abundance  of  Sealsy 
and  Se A' Fowls  about  it. 

,  A  LE  A  G  U  E  further  North  lies  the  Ifle  Fab- 
^d!>,  about  two  Miles  inCircunnference;  itexcelsin 
Paliurage,  the  Cows  in  it  afford  near  double  the 
Milk  that  they  yield  in  Skie,  In  the  Dog-Days 
there  is  a  big  Fly  iu  this  Ifle,  which  infefts  the 
Cowr;,  makes  them  run  up  and  down,  difcom- 
pofes  them  exceedingly,  and  hinders  their  Feed- 
ing, infomuch  that  they  muft  be  brought  out 
of  the  ifle,  to  the  Kle  of  Skie.  This  Ifle  affords 
abundance  of  Lobfiers,  Limpets^  Wilks^  Crabs, 
and  ordinary  Sea-Plants. 

ABOUT  half  a  League  further  North  lies 
the  fmali  Ifle  Gi/Uma»y  being  a  quarter  of  a  Mile 
in  Circumference  ;  the  whole  is  eover'd  with 
long  Heath,  and  the  Erica  Baccifera.  Within 
a  call  further  North  lies  the  Ifle  Scalpa,  very 
near  to  Skie^  five  Miles  in  Circumference ;  it  is 

moun- 


Wejlem  IJJands  of  Scotland,      i6i 

mountainous  from  the  South  end,  almoft  to  the 
North  end,  it  has  Wood  in  feveral  parts  of  it ; 
the  South  end  is  moft  arable,  and  is  fruitful  in 
Corn  and  Grafs. 

ABOUT  a  Mile  further  North  is  the  Ifle 
Rafty,  being  feven  Miles  in  length,  and  three 
in  breadth,  floaping  on  the  Weft  and  Eaft  fides ; 
it  has  fonie  Wood  on  all  the  Quarters  of  it,  the 
whole  is  fitter  for  Pafturage  than  Cultivation, 
the  Ground  being  generally  very  unequal,  but 
very  well  watered  with  Rivulets  and  Springs. 
There's  a  Spring  running  down  the  face  of  a 
high  Rock  on  the  Eaft  fide  of  the  Ifle ;  it  pe- 
trifies into  a  white  Subftance,  of  which  very  fine 
Lime  is  made,  and  there's  a  great  quantity  of  ir. 
There's  a  Quarry  of  good  Stone  on  the  fame 
fide  of  the  Ifle  ;  there  is  abundance  of  Caves  on 
the  Weft  fide,  which  lerve  to  lodg  feveral  Fa- 
milies ;  who  for  their  convenience  in  Grazing, 
Fifhing,  c^c.  refort  thither  in  the  Summer. 
On  the  Weft  fide,  particularly  near  to  the  Vil- 
lage CUchan^  the  Shoar  abounds  with  fmooth 
Stones  of  different  fizes,  variegated  all  over. 
The  fame  Cattle,  Fowl  and  Fifh  are  product 
here,  that  are  found  in  the  Ifle  of  Skie.  1  here 
is  a  Law  obferv'd  by  the  Natives,  that  all  their 
Fifhing-Lines  muft  be  of  equal  length  ;  for  the 
longeft  is  always  fuppos'd  to  have  beft  accefs  to 
the  Fifli,  which  would  prove  a  difadvancage 
to  fuch  as  might  have  fhorter  ones. 

L  2  THERE 


^  ^4       y^  D  E  S  C  R  I  P  T  I  O  N    0/  t/?^ 

THERE  are  fome  Forts  in  this  Ifle,  the 
higheft  is  in  the  South  end,  it  is  a  Natural 
Strength,  and  in  form  like  the  Crown  of  a  Hit ; 
it*s  called  Dun-Cann,  which  the  Natives  will 
needs  have  to  be  from  one  Canm^  Coufin  to  the 
King  of  Denmark.  The  other  lies  on  the  fide, 
is  an  Artificial  Fort,  three  Stories  high,  and  is 
caljcd  C<«/?/^  Freokle. 

THE  Proprietor  of  the  Ifle  is  Mv.Mack- 
Leod,  a  Cadet  of  the  Family  of  that  Name ; 
his  Seat  is  in  the  Village  CUchan^  the  Inhabi- 
tants have  as  great  veneration  for  him,  as  any 
Subjeds  can  have  for  their  King.  They  pre- 
ferve  the  Memory  of  thedeceafed  Ladies  of  the 
TIace,  by  erecling  a  little  Pyramid  of  Stone  for 
each  of  them,  with  the  Lady's  Name.  Thefe 
Pyramids  are  by  them  called  CrolTes ;  feveral  of 
them  are  built  of  Stone  and  Lime,  and  have 
three  fleps  of  graaual  afcent  to  'em.  There 
are  eight  fuch  Croffes  about  the  Village,  which 
is  adorn'd  with  a  little  Tower,  and  lefler 
Houles,  and  an  Orchard  with  feveral  forts 
of  Berries,  Pot-herbs,  &c.  The  Inhabitants 
are  all  Protejlants^  and  ufe  the  fame  Lan- 
guage, Habit,  and  Diet,  with  the  Natives  of 
Skie. 

A  BOUT  a  quarter  of  a  Mile  further  North 
I'es  the  Ifle  Ror^a,  which  is  three  Miles  in 
i.ngth :  Veffels  pafs  thro  the  narrow  Channel 

between 


Weflern  IJlands  of  Scotland.        1 6^ 

between  Rofay  and  Rona.  This  little  Ifle  is  the 
moft  unequal  rocky  piece  of  Ground  to  be  leen 
any  where ;  there's  but  very  few  Acres  fit  for 
digging,  the  whole  is  covered  with  long  Heath, 
EricA'bacciferay  Mertillm^  and  fome  mixture  of 
Grafs  ;  it  is  reckoned  very  fruitful  in  Pafturage  : 
moft  of  the  Rocks  confift  of  the  HeBic  Stone, 
and  a  confidcrable  part  of  'em  is  of  a  Red 
Colour. 

THERE  is  a  Bay  on  the  South-weft  end  of 
the  Ifle,  with  two  Entries,  the  one  is  on  tiic 
fVeJi-fide,  the  other  on  the  6outh^  buc  the  lat- 
ter is  only  acceflible  ;  it  has  a  Rock  within  the 
Entry,  and  a  good  Fifhing. 

ABOUT  three  Leagues  to  the  North^wejl  of 
Rona^  is  the  Ifle  Fiadda,  being  almoft  joiu'd  lo 
Skie'j  it  is  all  plain  arable  Ground,  and  about  a 
Mile  in  Circumference. 

ABOUT  a  Mile  to  the  AWth^  lies  the  Ifle 
Altvig^  it  has  a  high  Rock  facing  the  £>»/?,  is 
near  two  Miles  in  Circumference,  and  i^  repu- 
ted fruitful  in  Corn  and  Grafs  \  there  is  a  htile 
old  Chappel  in  it,  dedicated  ro  St.  Turos, 
There  is  a  Rock  of  about  forty  \  ards  in  leni;th 
at  ihQ  Nor th- end  Q^i\\Q  Ifle,  dntinguifhed  for  its 
commodioufnefi  in  FsOiing.  Hdrrtngs  are  feeri 
about  this  Rock  in  great  Numbers  ail  Saamier, 
infomuch  that  the  Fifber-boats  are  fomctimes  as 
it  were  entangled  among  the  fhoaii  of  th^m. 

L  J  THE 


\66     ^Desciription  of  the 

THE  Ifle  of  Troda  lies  within  half  a  League 
td  the  Nor thermoft  point  of  Skie^  called  Hunifb  ; 
it  is  two  Miles  in  Circumference,  fruitful  in 
Corn,  and  Grafs,  and  had  a  Chappel  dedica- 
ted to  St.  ColuwbHi,  The  Natives  told  me,  that 
there  is  a  couple  of  Ravens  in  the  Ifle,  which 
fuffer  none  other  of  their  kind  to  come  thither  ; 
and  when  their  own  Young  are  able  to  fly,  they 
beat  them  alfo  away  from  the  Ifle. 

FLAD  DA'Chuan  (i.  e.^  fUddA  of  the  Ocean, 
lies  about  two  Leagues  difiant  from  the  Weft^ 
ftde  o{ Hunifh-foint ',  it  is  two  Miles  in  Compafs, 
the  Ground  is  boggy,  and  but  indifferent  for 
Corn  or  Grafs:  the  Ifle  is  much  frequented  for 
the  plenty  of  Fifh  of  all  kinds,  on  each  quarter 
of  it.  There  are  very  big  Whales  which  purfue 
the  Fifh  ontheCoafl:;  the  Natives  diftinguifh 
one  Whale  for  its  bignefs  above  all  others,  and 
told  me  that  it  had  many  big  Limpets  growing 
upon  its  Back,  and  that  the  Eyes  of  it  were  of 
fucb  a  prodigious  bignefs,  as  ftruck  no  fmill 
Terror  into  the  Beholders.  There  is  a  Chappel 
in  the  Ifle  dedicated  to  Sr.  Columbm^  it  has  an 
Altar  in  the  Eaft-end^  and  there  is  a  blue  Stone 
of  a  round  Form  on  it,  which  is  always  moifl-. 
}i  is  an  ordinary  Cuftom,  when  any  of  the 
FiiT'.ermen  are  detain'd  in  the  Ifle,  by  con- 
trary Winds,  to  wafb  the  blue  Stone  with  Wa- 
ter all  round,  expefting  thereby  to  procure  a  fa- 
vourable Wind,    which  the   credulous  Tenant 

living 


Wejlern  Iflands  of  Scotland.      167 

living  in  the  I/le  fays  never  fails,  efpecially  if  a 
Stranger  wafli  the  Stone :  The  Stone  is  likewife 
applied  to  the  fides  of  People  troubled  with 
Stitches,  and  they  fay  it  is  effeftual  for  that  pur- 
pofe.  And  fo  great  is  the  regard  they  have 
for  this  Stone,  that  they  fwear  decifive  Oaths 
on  it. 

THE  Monk  0  Gorgon  is  buried  near  to  this 
Chappel,  and  there  is  a  Stonfe  five  foot  high 
at  each  end  of  his  Grave.  There's  abundance 
of  Sea-fowl  that  come  to  hatch  their  Young  in 
the  Ifle;  the  Coultermbs  are  very  numerous 
here,  it  comes  in  the  middle  of  March^  and 
goes  away  in  the  middle  o^  Augu(i :  it  makes  a 
Tour  round  the  Ifle  Sunways,  before  it  fettles 
on  the  Ground,  and  another  at  going  away 
in  Augufi  ;  which  Ceremony  is  much  approved 
by  the  Tenant  of  the  Ifle,  and  is  one  of  the 
chief  Arguments,  he  made  ufe  of  for  making  the 
like  round,  as  he  fets  out  to  Sea  with  his 
Boar. 

THERE  is  a  great  Flock  of  Vlovers,  that 
come  to  this  Ifle  from  6'/(7>,  in  the  beginning  of 
September  ;  they  return  again  in  Afrtl^  and  are 
faid  to  be  near  two  thoufand  in  all :  I  told  the 
Tenant  he  might  have  a  Couple  of  thefe  at  every 
Meal  during  the  Winter  and  Spring,  but  my 
motion  feem'd  very  dilagreeable  to  him;  for 
he  declared  that  he  had  never  once  attempted 
to  take  any  of  them,  tho  he  might  if  he  would : 
L  4  and 


i68     ^Description  o/fk 

and  at  the  fame  time  told  me,  be  wondred  how 
I  could  iaiagine,  that  he  would  be  fo  barbarous 
as  to  take  theiives  of  fuch  innocent  Creatures 
as  came  to  him  only  for  Self-prefervation. 

T  H  E  R  E  are  fix  or  feven  Rocks  within  di- 
flanceof  a  Musket- flior,  on  the  South  eaft  fide 
the  Ifle,  the  Sea  running  between  each  of  them  ; 
that  lying  more. £4j?fr/^  is  the  Fort  called  Bord 
Cruift,  (i.e.)  a  round  Table,  from  its  round 
Form  ;  it  is  about  three  hundred  Paces  in  Cir- 
cumference, flat  in  the  top^  has  a  deep  Well 
within  if,  the  whole  is  furrounded  with  a  fteep 
Rock,  and  has  only  one  Place  that  is  acceffi- 
ble  by  climbing,  and  that  only  by  one  Man  at 
a  time:  there  is  a  violent  Current  of  a  Tide  on 
each  fide  of  it,  which  contributes  to  render  it 
an  impregnable  Fort,  it  belongs  to  Sir  Donald 
Mac  Donald  One  fingle  Man  above  the 
Entry,  without  being  expos'd  to  fhot.  is  able, 
with  a  Staff  in  his  h.md,  to  keep  off  five  hun- 
dred Attackers;  for  one  only  can  climb  the 
Rock  at  a  time,  and  that  not  without  diffi- 
culty. 

T  H  E  f^  E  is  a  high  Rock  on  the  IVeJi^ftde 
the  Fort,  which  may  be  fecui  ed  alfo  by  a  tew 
hand^ 

ABOUT  half  a  League  on  the  South- ftde  the 
round  Table,  lies  tht  Rock  caHtd  Jeikar,  ^^i.  e.) 
jtijber,  becaufe  many  Fiihmg-boats  refort  to  it ; 

it 


Weftern  1/tands  of  Scotland.      169 

it  is  not  higher  than  a  final]  Veffel  under 
Sail.  This  Rock  affords  a  great  Quantity  of 
Scurvy-grafs,  oF  an  extraordinary  Size,  and  ve- 
ry thick  ;  the  Natives  eat  it  frequently,  as  well 
boil'd  as  raw  :  two  of  them  told  me  that  they 
happened  to  be  confin'd  there,  for  the  fpace  of 
thirty  hours,  by  a  contrary  Wind  ;  and  being 
without  Viftuals,  fell  to  eating  this  Scur- 
vy-grafs, and  finding  it  of  a  fweet  Tafte,  far 
different  from  the  Land  Scurvy-grafs,  they  eat 
a  large  Basket  fill  oF  it,  which  did  abundantly 
fatisfy  their  Appetites  unril  their  return  home: 
They  told  me  alfo  that  it  was  not  in  the  leaft 
windy,  or  any  other  way  troublefom  to  them. 

T  S  L  A  M  D  T»im  on  the  mft  of  the  Wing  of 
Skie^  called  Trotemefs,  lies  within  a  Mufquet-fhoc 
of  the  Caftie  of  the  Name  ;  it  is  a  hard  Rock, 
and  clothed  with  Grafs ;  there  are  two  Caves 
on  the  Wejt-fide^  in  which  abundance  of  Sea-Ccr- 
morants  build  and  hatch. 


ABOUT  <;  Leagues  to  the  South-weft  from 
Tulm  lies  the  Ifland  Jfcrib^  which  is  divided  in- 
to feveral  Parts  by  the  Sea  ;  it  is  about  two  Miles 
inCompafs,  and  affords  very  good  Pafturage  ; 
all  kind  of  Fifh  abound  in  the  neighbouring 
Sea.  On  i\\t  South-mft  Side  of  the  Ide  Jfcrib, 
at  the  diffance  of  two  Leagues,  lie  the  two 
fmall  ifies  of  Timan,  dire8:ly  in  the  mouth  of 
Loch-armfort ;  they  are  only  fit  for  Paiiurage. 

ON 


170     ^Description  of  the 

ON  the  Wel^-fide  0^  Vaternis  Promontory, 
within  the  Mouth  of  Loch-falUn,  lies  Ifa,  two 
Miles  in  Compafs,  being  fruitful  la  Corn  and 
Grafs,  and  is  commodious  for  fifhing  of  Cod 
and  Ling. 

T  H  E  R  E  are  two  fmall  Ifles,  called  Miffgoj^ 
on  the  North-eaft  Side  of  this  Ifle,  which  afford 
good  Pafturage. 

TH  ER  E  isa  red  fliort  kind  oWulfe,  grow- 
ingin  the  South-end  of  the  Ifle,  which  occafions 
a  Pain  in  the  Head  when  eaten,  a  Property  not 
known  in  any  other  Dulfe  whatever. 

THE  two  \{\es  B»ia  and  Har/as,  lie  in  the 
Mouth  of  Loch-Brackadil ;  they  are  both  pretty 
high  Rocks,  each  of  them  about  a  Mile  in  Cir- 
cumference, they  afford  good  Pafturage,  and  there 
are  red  Currants  in  thefe  fmall  Ifles,  fuppofed 
to  have  been  carry'd  there  at  firft  by  Birds. 

THE  Southern  Parts  of  Skie,  as  Sleat  and 
Strathf  are  a  Month  earlier  with  their  Grafs 
than  the  Northern  Parts ;  and  this  is  the  reafon 
that  the  Cattle  and  Sheep,  &c.  bring  forth  their 
Young  fooner  than  in  the  North- ftde, 

THE  Days  in  Summer  are  much  longer  here 
than  in  i\\z  South  of  England,  or  Scotland^  and  the 
Nights  fhorter,  which  about  the  Summer  Sot- 
pee 


Wefiern  Ijlands  of  Scotland.      1 7 1 

fiice  is  not  above  an  hour  and  an  half  in  length  ; 
and  the  further  we  come  South,  the  contrary  is 
to  be  obferv'd  in  Proportion. 

THE  Air  here  is  commonly  moift  and  cold ; 
this  difpofes  the  Inhabitants  to  take  a  larger 
Dofe  of  Brandy  or  other  ftrong  Liquors,  than 
in  the  South  of  Scotland,  by  which  they  fancy 
that  they  qualify  the  Moifture  of  the  Air  ;  this 
is  the  Opinion  of  all  Strangers,  as  well  as  of 
the  Natives,  fince  the  one  as  well  as  the  other 
drinks  at  IcaR  treble  the  Quantity  of  Brandy  in 
Skie  and  the  adjacent  Ifles,  that  they  do  in  the 
more  Southern  Climate. 

THE  Height  of  the  Mountains  contributes 
much  to  the  Moifture  of  the  Place,  but  more 
efpecially  the  Mountain  Qutllin,  which  is  the 
Husbandman's  Almanack ;  for  it  is  commonly 
obferv'd,  that  if  the  Heavens  above  that  Moun- 
tain be  clear  and  withcuc  (  louds  in  the  Mor- 
ning, then  it  is  not  doubted  hue  the  Weather 
will  prove  fair ;  &  e  contra,  the  Height  of  that 
Hill  reaching  to  t\\Q  Clouds  breaks  them,  and 
then  they  prefently  after  fall  down  in  great 
Rsins  accot  ding  as  the  Wind  blows ;  thus  when 
the  Wind  blows  from  the  South^  then  all  th« 
Ground  lying  to  iht  North  of  Qu^illtn  Hills  is 
wet  with  Rains,  whereas  ail  the  other  three 
Quarters  are  dry. 

TH£ 


1/2       ^  DeSCRI  PTION  o/f/;^ 

THE  South-rveji  Winds  are  obferv'd  to  car- 
ry more  Rain  with  them  than  any  other,  and 
blow  much  higher  in  the  moft  Northern  Point 
of  Skky  than  they  do  two  Miles  further  South  : 
for  which  I  could  perceive  no  vifible  Gaufe, 
unlefs  it  be  the  Height  of  the  Hill,  about  two 
Miles  South  frorn  that  Point ;  for  after  we  come 
to  the  South-Jide  of  it,  the  Wind  is  not  per- 
ceived to  be  fo  high  as  on  the  North-fide  by 
half. 

IT'S  obfervedof  the  Eafi-wwd,  that  tho  it 
blow  but  vc  y  gentle  in  the  Ifle  of  Skie^  and 
on  the  l^^efi-fte  of  it,  for  the  fpace  of  about 
three  or  four  Leagues  towards  the  IVeJi^  yet 
as  we  advance  more  IVefierly^  it  is  fenfibly 
higher;  and  when  we  come  near  to  theCoaft 
of  the  more  Wefiern  Ifles  of  VIH,  Harries^ 
See,  it  is  obferv'd  to  blow  very  frefli,  tho  at 
the  fame  rime  it  is  alraoft  calm  on  the  ff^*?/- 
ftde  the  Ifle  Skte,  The  Wind  is  attended  with 
iair  Weather,  both  in  this  and  other  Wejlern 
Ifles. 

THE  Sea,  in  time  of  a  Calm,  is  obferved  to 
have  a  rifing  Motion,  before  the  North-wind 
blows,  which  it  has  not  before  the  approaching 
of  any  other  Wind. 

THE  North-wind  is  ftill  colder,  and  more 
deftrud.ve  to  Corn,  Canle,  &c.  than  any  other. 

WO- 


Weflern  Iflands  of  Scotland.      1 7  y 

WOMEN  obferve  that  their  Breafts  con- 
trad  to  a  lefTer  bulk  when  the  Wind  blows  from 
the  North ^  and  that  then  they  yield  lefs  Milk,, 
than  when  it  blows  from  any  other  Quarter ; 
and  they  make  the  like  obfervation  in  other 
Creatures  that  give  Milk. 

THEY  obferve  that  when  the  Sea  yields  a 
kind  of  pleafant  and  fweet  Scent,  it  is  a  fure 
prefage  of  fair  Weather  to  enfue. 

THE  Wind  in  Summer  blows  ftronger  by 
Land,  than  by  Sea,  and  the  contrary  in  Win- 
ter. 

I N  the  Summer,  the  Wind  is  fometimes  ob- 
ferved  to  blow  from  difTerent  Quarters  at  the 
fame  time:  I  have  ktn  two  Bo^s  fail  quite 
contrary  ways,  until  they  came  within  lefs  than 
a  League  of  each  other,  and  then  one  of  them 
was  becalm'd,  and  the  other  continu'd  to  fail 
forward. 

THE  Tide  of  Ebb  here  runs  Southerlj,  and 
the  Tide  of  Flood  Northerly^  where  no  Head 
Lands  or  Promontories  are  in  the  way  to  inter- 
pofe ;  for  in  fiich  cafes  the  Tides  are  obferved 
to  hold  a  courfe  quite  contrary  to  the  ordina- 
ry motion  in  the  fe  I  Acs,  and  the  oppofire  main 
Land  :  This  is  obferved  between  the  Eafl-ftde 
of  Skie  and  the  oppofue  Continent,  where  the 

Tide 


174     ^  Descriptio  N  o/ J;^ 

Tide  of  Ebb  runs  Northerly^  and  the  Tide  of 
Flood  Southerly^  as  far  as  KjHach-Jione,  on  the 
Soutjj-eaft  of  Skie ;  both  Tides  running  direftly 
contrary  to  what  is  to  be  feen  in  all  the  Weftern 
Ifles,  and  oppofite  Continent.  The  Natives  at 
JC^lakifi  told  me,  that  they  h^d  feen  three  diffe* 
rent  Ebbings  fucceflively  on  that  part  of 
She. 

THE  Tide  of  Ebb  is  always  greater  with 
North-winds,  than  when  it  blows  from  any  o- 
ther  Quarter  ;  and  the  Tide  of  Flood  is  always 
higher  with  South-winds^  than  any  other. 

THE  two  chief  Spring-tides  are  on  the  tenth 
of  September  J  and  on  the  tenth  or  twentieth  of 
March. 

THE  Natives  are  very  much  difpos'd  to  ob- 
ferve  the  influence  of  the  Moon  on  human  Bo- 
dies, and  for  that  caufe  they  never  dig  their 
Peats  but  in  the  Decreafe ;  for  they  obferve  that 
if  they  are  cut  in  the  Increafe,  they  continue 
ffill  moift,  and  never  burn  clear,  nor  are  they 
without  5moak,  but  the  contrary  is  daily  ob- 
ferved  of  Peats  cut  in  the  Incieafe. 

THEY  make  up  their  eirthen  Dykes,  in 
the  Decreafe  only,  for  fuch  as  are  made  at  the 
Increafe  are  Hill  obferved  to  fall. 


THEY 


Weftern  I/lands  of  Scothnd,      175 

THEY  fell  their  Timber,  and  cut  their 
Rufhes  in  time  of  the  Decreafe. 

77;^    T>lfeafes,     hriown    and  not    known    in 
SKIE,  and  the  adjacent  IJles, 

TH  E  Gouty  Corns  in  the  Feet,  Con-uulfions^ 
Madnefs^  Fits  of  the  Mother,  f^apours, 
Paljj,  Lethargj,  RheumatifmSy  Wens^  Ganglions^ 
Kjngs-Evil^  Jgue,  Surfeits  and  Confumptions 
are  not  frequent,  and  Barremefs,  and  Abortion 
very  rare. 

THE  Difeafes  that  prevail  here  are  Fevers, 
Stitches^  Cholick^  Head-ach,  Megrim^  Jaundice^ 
Sciatica,  Stone,  Smali-Pox,  Meaps,  Rickets , 
Scurvy,  Worms,  Fluxes,  Tooth-ach,  Cough  and 
S^uinance. 

THE  ordinary  Remedies  us'd  by  the  Na- 
tives, are  taken  from  Plants,  Roots,  Stones, 
Animals,  &c. 

TO  cure  a  Pleurify,  the  letting  of  Blood 
plentifully,  is  an  ordinary  Remedy. 

WHEY,  in  which  Violets  have  been  boil'd, 
is  us'd  as  a  cooling  and  refrefhing  Drink  for 
fuch  as  are  ill  of  Fevers.  When  the  Patient 
has  not  a  Sweat  duly,  their  Shirt  is  boil'd  in 

Water, 


176     JDescri'ption  of  the 

Water,  and  afterwards  put  on  them  ;  which 
caufesa  fpeedy  Sweat.  When  the  Patient  is  very 
Coftive,  and  without  paflTage  by  Stool  or  Urine, 
or  pafTes  the  ordinary  time  of  fw^eating  in  Fevers, 
two  or  three  handfuls  of  the  Sea-plant  call'd 
Du/fe,  bo'iiW  in  a  little  Water,  and  fome  frefh 
Butter'  with  it,  and  the  Infufion  drunk,  pro- 
cures PafTage  both  ways,  and  Sweat  Ihortly  af- 
ter :  The  Dalje,  growing  on  Stone,  not  that  on 
the  Seaware,  is  only  pioper  in  thib  cafe. 


T  O  procure  Sleep  after  a  Fever,  the  Feet, 
Knees,  and  Ancles  of  the  Patient  are  wafbed 
in  warm  Water,  into  which  a  good  quantity 
of  Chick-weed  is  put,  and  afterwards  fome  of 
the  Plant  is  applied  warm  to  the  Neck,  and 
between  the  Shoulders,  as  the  Patient  goes  to 
Bed. 

THE  tops  of  Nettles,  chop'd  fmall,  and 
mixM  with  a  few  whites  of  raw  Eggs,  applied 
to  the  Fore- head  and  Temples,  by  way  of  a 
Frontel,  is  usM  to  procure  Sleep, 

FOXGLOVE,  applied  warm  plaifterwife 
to  the  part  aftefted,  removes  pains  that  follow 
after  Fevers, 

THE  Sea-plant  Li»^m^,  is  usM  to  procure 
Sleep,  as  is  mentioned  among  its  Virtues. 


Wejleni  Iflands  of  Scotland,      1 77 

ERICJ'BJCCIFERJ  boird  a  little  in 
Water,  and  apply'd  warm  to  the  Crown  of  the 
Head  and  Temples,  is  usM  likewife  as  a  Reme- 
dy to  procure  Sleep. 

TO  remove  Stitches^  when  letting  Blood 
does  not  prevail,  the  part  affe£led  is  rubb'd 
with  an  Ointment  made  of  Camomile  and  frefh 
Butter,  or  of  Brandy  with  frefh  Butter ;  and 
others  apply  a  Quantity  of  raw  Scurvy-grafs 
chop'd  fmalJ. 

THE  Scarlet-Fever,  which  appear'd  in  this 
Ifle  only  within  thefe  two  Years  Uft,  is  ordi- 
narily cur*d  by  drinking  now  and  then  a  Glafs 
of  Brandy.  If  an  Infant  happen  to  be  taken 
with  it,  the  Nurfe  drinks  fome  Brandy,  which 
qualifies  the  Milk,  and  proves  a  fuccefsful  Re- 
medy. 

THE  common  Alga^  or  Sea-Ware,  is  year-~ 
ly  us'd  with  Succefs,  to  manure  the  Fruit-Trees 
in  Sir Dofiald  Maek-DonaU\  Orchard  at  Armldill : 
feveral  affirm,  that  if  a  Quantity  of  Sea-Ware 
be  us'd  about  the  Roots  of  Fruit-Trees,  whofe 
Growth  IS  hinder'd  by  the  Sea-Air,  this  will 
make  thep  grow  and  produce  Fruit. 

HEAD-AC H  is  removM  by  taking  raw 

Duife  and  Linarich  apply'd  cold  by  way  of  a 

M  Plaifter 


178     ^Description  of  the 

Plaifter  to  the  Temples.    This  likewife  is  us'd 
as  a  Remedy  to  remove  the  Megrim. 

THE  'jaundice  is  curM  by  the  Vulgar,  as 
follows :  the  Patient  being  ftripM  naked  behind 
to  the  middle  of  the  Back,  he  who  aGs  the 
Surgeon's  part,  marks  the  nth  Bone  from  the 
Rump  on  the  Back,  with  a  black  Stroke,  in 
order  to  touch  it  with  his  Tongs,  as  mention'd 
already. 

SCIATICA  is  cur'd  by  applying  the  Cafe 
with  the  Fat  of  the  Carara-fowl,  to  the  Thigh- 
bone ;  and  it  muft  not  be  remov'd  from  thence, 
till  the  Cure  is  perform'd. 

FLJMV LA-JO FIS,  or  Spre-wort,  being 
€Ut  fmall,  and  a  Limpet- fhell  filj'd  with  it,  and 
apply 'd  to  the  Thigh-bone,  caufes  a  Blifter  to 
rife  about  the  Bignefs  of  an  Egg  ;  which  being 
cur,  a  Quantity  of  watry  Matter  iffues  from  it : 
the  Blifter  rifes  three  times,  and  being  empty'd 
as  often,  the  Cure  is  perform'd.  The  Sea-plant 
Limrich  is  apply'd  to  the  Place,  to  cure  and 
dry  the  Wound. 

CROW-FOOT  oUh^ Moor,  is  more  effec- 
tual for  raifing  a  Blifter,  and  curing  the  Sciatica^ 
than  Flawula-Jovu ;  for  that  fometimes  fails  of 
breaking,  or  raifing  the  Skin,  but  the  Croiv-foot 
feldom  fails. 

SEVERAL 


Weftern  Iflands  of  Scotland.      179 

SEVERAL  of  the  common  People  have 
the  Boldnefs  to  venture  upon  the  t'lamuU-JoviSy 
inftead  of  a  Purge :  they  take  a  ilttle  of  theln- 
fufion,  and  drink  it  in  melted  frefh  Butter,  as  the 
propereft  Vehicle ;  and  this  preferves  the  Throat 
from  being  excoriated. 

FOR  the  Stone  they  drink  Water-gruel 
without  Salt :  They  likewife  eat  Allium^  or  wild 
Garlicky  and  drink  the  Infufion  of  it  boil'd  in 
Water,  which  they  find  effedual  both  ways. 
The  Infufion  of  the  Sea-plant  Dulfe  boiPd,  is 
alfo  good  againft  the  Stone ;  as  is  likewife  the 
Broth  of  Wilks  and  Limpets :  and  againfl:  the 
Cho/icky  C oft- I've f^efsy  and  Switches,  a  Quantity  of 
Scurvy-grafs  boil'd  in  Water  with  iome  frefh 
Butter  added  and  eaten  for  fome  days,  is  an 
effectual  Remedy. 

TO  kill  Worms,  the  Infufion  of  Tanfy  in 
Whey,  or  Ac[uii.vit£y  taken  fafting,  is  an  ordi- 
nary Medicine  with  the  Ijlanders* 

CA  R  TO  PHTLA  TA  Alpha  Chamedreos  fol: 
It  grows  on  Marble  in  divers  parts,  about 
Chriji-Church  in  Strath  ;  never  obferv'd  before 
in  Britain^  and  but  once  in  Ireland^  by  Mr.  Hia- 
foff,     A/cr//o»'s  Hift*  Rzy  Sjnopjis,  I  :^  J. 

CAR  MEL,  alias  Kpaphard,  by  Mr.  Jams 

Sutherland  call'd  Argatilis  Sjlvatkffs :    it  has  a 

M  2  blue 


i8o     y^  Description  of  the 

blue  Flower .  in  Jft/y ;  the  Plant  it  felf  is  Dot 
usM,  but  the  Root  is  eaten  to  expel  Wind :  and  , 
they  fay  it  prevents  Drunkennefs,  by  frequent 
chewing  of  it ;  and  being  fo  us'd,  gives  a  good 
Relifh  to  all  Liquors,  Milk  only  excepted.  It  is 
Jromatick,  and  the  Natives  prefer  it  to  Spice, 
for  brewing  Jquav/t^e ;  the  Root  will  keep  for 
many  Years :  fome  fay  that  it  is  Cordial,  and 
allays  Hunger. 

SHVNNIS  is  a  Plant  highly  valu'd  by 
the  Natives,  who  eat  it  raw,  and  alfo  boil'd 
with  Fifli,  Flefh,  and  Milk :  it  is  us'd  as  a  So- 
vereign Remedy  to  cure  the  Sheep  of  the 
Cough  ;  the  Root  eaten  fafting,  expels  Wind  .^^  it 
was  not  known  in  Britain,  except  in  the  North- 
rved  Ifles,  and  fome  parts  of  the  oppofite  Con- 
tinent. Mr.  "James  Sutherland  fent  it  to  France 
fome  Years  ago. 

A  Quantity  of  wild  Sage  chew'd  between 
one's  Teeth,  and  put  into  the  Ears  of  Cows  or 
Sheep  that  become  blind,  cures  them,  and  per- 
fedly  reftores  their  Sight ;  of  which  there  are 
many  frelh  Inllances  both  in  Skie  and  Harries, 
by  Perfons  of  great  Integrity. 

A  Quantity  of  wild  Sage  chop'd  fmall,  and 
eaten  by  Horfes  mix'd  with  their  Corn,  kills 
Worms ;  the  Horfe  muft  not  drink  for  lo  Hours 
after  eating  it. 

THE 


Weftern  JJlands  of  Scotland.        i  8  i 

THE  Infufion  of  wild  Sage  after  the  fame 
manner,  produces  the  like  eflPeft. 

WILD  Sage  cut  fmal),  and  raix'd  among 
Oats  given  to  a  Horfe  fafting,  and  kept  with- 
out Drink  for  feven  or  eight  Hours  after,  kills 
"ft^orms. 

FLVXES  are  cur'd  by  taking  now  and 
then  a  fpoonful  of  the  Syrup  of  blue  Berries 
that  grow  on  the  Mertillw. 

PLANTAIN  boilM  in  Water,  and  the 
He5fic-ftone  heated  red-hot  quench'd  in  the  fame, 
is  fuccefsfully  us'd  for  Fluxes. 

SOME  cure  the  Tooth-achy  by  applying  a 
little  of  the  Flamula-Jovis^  in  a  Lmpet-^hd],  to 
the  Temples. 

A  Green  Turf  heated  among  Embers,  as  hot 
as  can  be  endur'd,  and  by  the  Patient  apply'd  to 
the  fide  of  the  Head  affefted,  is  likewife  us'd 
for  the  Tooth-ach. 

FOR  Coughs  and  Co/ds,  Water-gruel  with 
a  little  Butter  is  the  ordinary  Cure. 

FOR  Coughs  and    Hoarfnefs^    they    ufe  to 

bathe  the  Feet  in  warm  Water,  for  the  fpace  of 

a  quarter  of  an  hour  at  leaft  ;   and  then  rub  a 

M  5  little 


i82     ^Description  of  the 

little  Quantity  of  Deers  Greafe  (the  older  the 
better)  to  the  Soles  of  their  Feet  by  the  Fire ; 
the  Deers  Greafe  alone  is  fufEcient  in  the  Morn- 
ing :  and  this  Method  nnuft  be  continued  until 
the  Cure  is  performed.  And  it  may  be  us'd  by 
Young  or  Old,  except  Women  with  Child,  for 
the  fir  ft  four  Months,  and  fuch  as  are  troubled 
with  Vapours. 

HJRTS-TONGVE  and  Maiden-Hair, 
boil'd  in  Wort,  and  the  Ale  drunk,  is  us'd  for 
Coughs  and  Confumptions, 

MILK  or  Water,  wherein  the  HeBic-fione 
hath  been  boil'd  or  quench'd  red-hot,  and  being 
taken  for  ordinary  Drink,  is  alfo  efficacious  a- 
gainft  a  Confamptton. 

THE  Hands  and  Feet  often  wafh'd  in  Wa- 
ter, in  which  the  HeBic-fiom  has  been  boil'd,  is 
efteem'd  refl:orative. 

r ARROW  with  the  HeBic-ftone  boil'd  in 
Milk,  and  frequently  drunk,  is  us'd  for  Ccn- 

fumptions. 

iVJTER-GRVEL  is  alfo  found  by  Expe- 
rience  to  be  good  for  Confumptions ;  it  purifies 
the  Blood,  and  procures  Appetite,  when  drunk 
without  Salt. 

THERE 


Weflern  Iflands  of  Scotland.      183 

THERE  is  a  Smith  in  the  Parifli  of  Kjl^ 
mar  tin,  who  is  reckon'd  a  Dodor  for  curing 
Faintnefs  of  the  Spirits.  This  he  performs  in 
the  following  manner: 

THE  Patient  being  laid  on  the  Anvil  with 
his  Face  uppermoft,  the  Smith  takes  a  big  Ham- 
mer in  both  his  Hands,  and  making  his  Face 
all  Grimace,  he  approaches  his  Patient ;  and 
then  drawing  his  Hammer  from  the  Ground, 
as  if  he  defign'd  to  hit  him  with  his  full 
Strength  on  the  Forehead,  he  ends  in  a  Feint, 
elfe  he  would  be  fure  to  cure  the  Patient  of  all 
Difeafes  :  but  the  Smith  being  accuftom'd  to 
the  Performance,  has  a  Dexterity  of  managing 
his  Hammer  with  Difcretion  ;  the  at  the  fame 
time  he  muft  do  it  fo  as  to  ftrike  Terror  in  the 
Patient :  and  this  they  fay  has  always  the  de* 
fign'd  Effetl. 

THE  Smith  is  famous  for  his  Pedegree ;  for 
it  has  been  obferv'd  of  a  long  time,  that  there 
has  been  but  one  only  Child  born  in  the  Family, 
and  that  always  a  Son,  and  when  he  arrived 
to  Man's  Eftate,  the  Father  died  prefencly  after : 
the  prefcnt  Smith  makes  up  the  thirteenth 
Generation  of  that  Race  of  People  who  are  bred 
to  be  Smiihs,  and  all  of  them  pretend  to  this 
Cure. 

M4  I  Lie  A 


184      ^  D  E  S  C  R  I  P  T  I  O  N  o/  t/?e 

I  Lie  J  PASS  10,  ovTrnfting  of  the  Guts, 
has  been  feveral  times  cur'd  by  drinking  a 
Draught  of  cold  Water,  with  a  little  Oatnieal 
in  it,  and  then  hanging  the  Patient  by  the 
Heels  for  feme  time.  The  laft  Inftance  in  Skie 
was  by  John  Morifon,  in  the  Village  of  Talif- 
ker,  who  by  this  Remedy  alone  cur'd  a  Boy 
of  fourteen  Years  of  Age.  Dr.  FitcAirn  told 
me,  that  the  like  Cure  had  been  perform'd  in 
the  Shire  of  Fife  for  the  fame  Difeafe.  A  Ca- 
tafUfm  of  hot  Dulfe^  with  its  Juice,  apply'd  fe- 
veral times  to  the  lower  part  of  the  Belly,  cur'd 
the  Iliac  Paffion. 

THE  Sea-plant  D//^' is  us'd,  as  is  faid  a- 
bove,  to  remove  Cholicks  ;  and  to  remove  that 
Diftemper  and  Coftivemfs,  a  little  Quantity  of 
frefh  Butter,  and  fome  Scurvy-grafs  boil'd,  and 
eaten  with  its  Infufion,  is  an  uiual  and  effedual 
Remedy.  • 

A  Large  handful  of  the  Sea-plant  D«^,  grow- 
ing upon  Stone,  being  apply'd  outwardly,  as 
is  mention'd  above,  againft  the  lliaca  Paffto, 
takes  away  the  After -birth  with  great  Eafe  and 
Safety  ;  this  Remedy  is  to  be  repeated  until  it 
produce  tlie  defir'd  Effect,  tho  <ome  hours  may 
be  intermitted  :  the  frefhsr  the  Dulfe  is,  the 
Operation  is  tiie  flronger  ;  for  if  it  is  above 
two  or  three  Days  old,  little  is  to  be  expelled 

from 


Wcjlern  Iflnnds  of  Scotland.      185 

from  it  in  this  cafe.  This  Plant  feldom  or  ne- 
ver fails  of  Succefs,  tho  the  Patient  had  been 
deliver'd  feveral  Days  before;  and  of  this  I 
have  lately  feen  an  extraordinary  Inftance  at 
Edinburgh  in  Scotland,  when  the  Patient  was 
given  over  as  dead. 

DVLSE,  being  eaten  raw  or  boil'd,  is  by 
daily  Experience  found  to  be  an  excellent  Jnti- 
fcorbutick  \  it  is  better  raw  in  this  cafe,  and  muft 
be  firft  wafh'd  in  cold  Water. 

F  O  R  a  Fracture^  the  firft  thing  they  apply 
to  a  broken  Bone,  is  the  White  of  an  Egg,  and 
fome  Barley  Meal ;  and  then  they  tie  Splinters 
round  it,  and  keep  it  fo  tied  for  fome  days. 
When  the  Splinters  are  untied,  they  make  ufc 
of  the  following  Ointment,  viz.  a  like  Quan^ 
tity  of  Betonica.  Pau/i,  St.  John'^s  tVort,  Golden- 
Rod,  all  cut  and  bruis'd  in  Sheeps  Greafe,  or 
frefh  Butter,  to  a  Confiftence;  fome  of  this 
this  they  fpread  on  a  Cloth,  and  lay  on  the 
Wound,  which  continues  untied  for  a  kw 
Days. 

GIBEN  0^  St.  Kiilda,  i.  e.  the  Fat  of  Sea- 
Fowls  made  into  a  Pudding  in  the  Stomach 
of  the  Fowl,  is  alfo  an  approved  Vulnerary  for 
Man  or  Beaif. 

THE  Vulgar  make  Purges  of  the  Infu- 
fion  of  Scurvj'grafs,   and    fome   frefh  Butter ; 

and 
9 


1^6     ^Description  of  the 

and  this  they  continue  to  take  for  the  fpace  of 
a  Week  or  two,  becaufe  it  is  mild  in  its  Ope- 
ration. 

THEY  ufe  the  Infufion  of  the  Sea-plant 
Di^Ife  after  the  fame  mann^%  inftead  of  a 
Pu'ge. 

E  Y  F  S  that  are  Blood-fhot,  or  become  blind 
for  fofii.e  days,  are  cur'd  here  by  applying 
fome  l.lades  of  the  Plant  Ferft,  and  the  Yellow 
is  by  ihem  reckoned  beft;  this  they  mix  with 
the  White  of  an  Egg,  and  lay  it  on  fome  coarfe 

FiaX :and  the  Egg  next  to  the  Face  and 

Brows,  and  the  Patient  is  ordered  to  lie  on  his 
Back. 

TO  ripen  a  Tumor,  or  Boil,  they  cut  Fe- 
male Jacoka  fmall,  mix  it  with  fome  frefh  But- 
ter on  a  hot  Stone,  and  apply  it  warm  ;  and 
this  ripens  and  draws  the  Tumor  quickly,  and 
without  Pain :  the  fame  Remedy  is  us'd  for 
Womens  Breafts  that  are  hard,  or  fwelPd. 

FOR  taking  the  Sjrows  out  of  the  Hands, 
they  ufe  Afhes  of  burnt  Sea  ware,  mix'd  with 
Salt  water;  and  wafhing  their  Hands  in  it,  with- 
out drying  them,  it  kills  the  Worms. , 

BURNT  k^n^so^ Sea-ware  preferve Cheefe, 
inflead  of  Salt;  -which  is  frequently  pradis'd 

in 


Weflern  Iflands  of  Scotland.      187 

in  this  Ifle.  Afhes  of  burnt  Sea-ware  fcower 
Flaxen  Thred  better,  and  make  it  whiter 
than  any  thing  elfe. 

WHEN  their  Feet  are  fwell'd  and  benumb'd 
with  Cold,  they  fcarrify  thejr  Heels  with  a 
Lancet. 

THEY  make  Gliders  o{  thtVhnt  Mercury, 
and  fome  of  the  Vulgar  ufe  it  as  a  Purge,  for 
which  it  ferves  both  ways. 

THEY  makeGlifters  alfo  of  the  Roots  of 
Flags,  Water,  and  fait  Butter. 

THEY  have  found  out  a  ftrange  Remedy  for 
fuch  as  could  never  eafe  Nature  at  Sea  by  Stool 
or  Urine  :  Ihere  were  threefuch  Men  in  the  Pa- 
rifh  of  St.  Marfs  in  Totternefs,  two  of  them  I 
knew,  to  wit,  "John  Mack  P hade ^  and  FinLiy 
Mack-Phade;  they  liv'd  on  the  Coaft,  and  went 
often  a  Fifhing,  and  after  they  had  fpent  fome 
nine  or  ten  hours  at  Sea,  their  Bellies  would 
fwell  ;  for  after  all  their  Endeavours  to  get 
paffage  either  ways,  it  was  imprafticable  un- 
til they  came  to  Land,  and  then  they  found 
no  difficulty  in  the  thing.  This  was  a  great 
Inconvenience  to  any  Boats-Crew  in  which 
either  of  thefe  three  Men  had  been  fifliing, 
for  it  oblig'd  them  often  to  forbear  when  the 
fifhing  was  moft  plentiful,  and  to  row  to  the 
fhoar  with  any  of  thefe  Men  that  happen 'd  to 

become 


1  8  8       ^  D  E  S  C  R  I  P  T  I  O  N  o/  ^/?e 

become  fick  ;  for  landing  was  the  only  Reme- 
dy. At  length  one  of  their  Companions  thought 
of  an  Experiment  to  remove  this  Inconvenience ; 
heconfider'd,  that  when  any  of  thefe  Men  had 
got  their  Feet  on  dry  Ground,  they  could  then 
eafe  Nature  with  as  much  freedom  as  any 
other  Perfon;  and  therefore  he  carried  a  large 
green  Turff  of  Earth  to  the  Boat,  and  plac'd 
the  green  Side  uppermofl:,  without  telling  the 
reafon.  One  of  thefe  Men  who  was  fubjeft  to 
the  Infirmity  above-mention'd,  perceiving  an 
Earthen  Turff  in  the  Boat,  was  furpriz'd  at 
the  fight  of  it,  and  enquired  for  what  purpofe 
it  was  brought  thither?  He  that  laid  it  there 
anfwer'd,  that  he  had  done  it  to  ferve  him, 
and  that  when  he  was  difpos'd  to  eafe  Nature, 
he  inight  find  himfelf  on  Land,  tho  he  was 
at  Sea,  The  other  took  this  as  an  Affront, 
fo  that  from  Words  they  came  to  Blows :  their 
Fellows  with  much  ado  did  feparate  them, 
and  blam'd  him  that  brougiit  the  Turff  into 
the  Boat  fince  fuch  a  Fancy  could  produce  no 
other  Effeft  than  a  Quarrel.  All  of  them 
em.pioy'd  their  time  eagerly'  in  fifhing,  until 
fome  hours  after,  that  the  angry  Man,  who 
before  was  fo  much  affronted  at  the  Turff, 
was  fo  ill  of  the  Swelling  of  his  Beily  as  ufual, 
that  he  begg'd  of  the  Crew  to  row  to  the 
Shoar,  but  this  was  very  difobliging  to  them 
all.  He  that  intended  to  try  the  Experiment 
with  the  Turff,  bid  the  Sick  Man  ftand  on  it, 
and  he  might  expedl  to  have  Succcfs  by  it  ; 

but 


Weflern  IJlands  of  Scotland,     i  8p 

but  he  refus'd,  and  ftill  refented  the  Affront 
v/hich  he  thought  was  intended  upon  him  :  but 
at  laft  all  the  Boats  Crew  urg'd  him  to  try 
what  the  Turff  might  produce,  fince  it  could 
not  make  him  worfe  than  he  was.  The  Man 
being  in  great  pain,  was  by  their  repeated  Im- 
portunities prevail'd  upon  to  ftand  with  his 
Feet  on  the  Turff ;  and  it  had  the  wiflied  Effed:, 
for  Nature  became  obedient  both  ways;  and 
then  the  angry  Man  changed  bis  note,  for  he 
thanked  his  Doftor,  whom  he  had  fome  hours 
before  beat.  And  from  that  time  none  of  thefe 
three  Men  ever  went  to  Sea  without  a  green 
Turff  in  their  Boat,  which  prov'd  efFedlual. 
This  is  matter  of  Fafl:  fufficiently  known  and 
attefted  by  the  better  Part  of  the  Parifhioners 
ftill  living  upon  the  Place. 

THE  antient  way  the  Iflanders  us'd  to  pro- 
cure Swear,  was  thus :  A  Part  of  an  earthen 
Floor  was  coverM  with  Fire,  and  when  it  was 
fufficiently  heated,  the  Fire  was  taken  away, 
and  the  Ground  cover'd  with  a  Heap  of  Straw  ; 
upon  this  Straw  a  Quantity  of  Water  was  poured, 
and  the  Patient  lying  on  the  Straw ;  the  Heat 
of  it  put  his  whole  Body  into  a  fweat. 

T  O  caufe  any  particular  Part  of  the  Body 
to  fweat,  they  dig  an  hole  in  an  earthen  Floor, 
and  fill  it  with  Hazle  Sticks,  and  dry  Ruflies ; 
above  thefe  they  put  a  Keclick-Stone  red  hot, 
and  pouring  fbme  Water  into  the  Hole,  the  Pa- 
tient 


ipo     ^Description  o/^r/;^ 

tient  holds  the  Part  afFefted  over  it,   and  this 
procures  a  fpeedy  Sweat. 

THEIR  common  way  of  procuring  Sweat 
is  by  drinking  a  large  Draught  of  Water-gruel 
with  fome  Butter,  as  they  go  to  Bed. 


Of  the  yarioHS  EjfeEls  of  Fijhes  on  federal 
Conjikutions  in  thefe  I/lands. 

DONGJL    MJCK'EWJN  became 
feverifh  always  after  eating  of  Fi(h  of 
any  kind,  except  Thornhack  and  Dog-Fijh. 

A  L/A^G-F/^// having  brown  Spots  on 
the  Skin,  caufes  fuch  as  eat  of  its  Liver,  to  caft 
their  Skin  from  head  to  foot.  This  happened  to 
three  Children  in  the  Hamlet  of  Taliskerj  after 
eating  the  Liver  of  a  brown  fpottedL/>^. 

FINLJT  ROSS  and  his  Family,  in  the 
Parifh  of  Vge^  having  eaten  a  frefh  Ling-Fijh, 
with  brown  Spots  on  its  Skin,  he  and  they  be- 
came indifpofed  and  feverifh  for  fome  few  Days, 
and  in  a  little  time  after  they  were  blifter'd  all 
over.  They  fay  that  when  the  frefh  Ling  is  fai- 
led a  few  days,  it  has  no  fuch  EfTedi. 

THERE 


Wejleni  I/lands   of  Scotland.      191 

THERE  was  a  Horfe  in  the  Village  Breti/i, 
which  had  the  EreQion  backward,  contrary  to 
all  other  of  its  Kind. 

A  WEAVER  in  Ponrie  has  a  Faculty  of 
ereding  and  letting  fall  his  Ears  at  pleafure,  and 
opens  and  fliuts  his  Mouth  on  fuch  occafions. 

A  BOY  in  the  Caftle  of  Dumulm,  called 
Mifier  to  a  By-Name,  hath  a  Pain  and  Swel- 
ling in  his  great  Toe  at  every  Change  of  the 
Moon,  and  it  continues  only  for  the  Space  of 
one  Day,  or  two  at  moft. 

ALLEN  MAC -LEOD  being  about  ten 
Years  of  age,  was  t^ken  ill  of  a  Pain  which 
moved  from  one  Part  of  his  Body  to  another, 
and  where  it  was  felt,  the  Skin  appear'd  blue ;  it 
came  to  his  Toe,  Thigh,  Tefticles,  Arms  and 
Head  :  when  the  Boy  was  bath'd  in  warm 
Water,  he  found  moil;  Eafe.  The  hinder  Part 
of  his  Head,  which  was  laft  affected,  had  a  lit- 
tle Swelling  ;  and  a  Woman  endeavouring  to 
fqueeze  the  Humour  out  of  it,  by  bruifing  it 
on  each  Side  with  her  Nails,  ihe  forc'd  out  at 
the  fame  time  a  I'ltth  Animal  near  an  Inch  ia 
length,  having  a  white  Head  fliarp  pointed, 
the  reft  of  its  Body  of  a  red  Colour,  and  full 
of  fmall  Feet  on  each  fide.  Animals  of  this 
fort  have  been  feen  in  the  Head  and  Legs  of 

feveral 


ipi      ^Description  of  the 

feveral  Perfons  in  the  Ifles,  and  are  diftinguifh'd 
by  the  Name  of  FilUn. 


Yeajl^  how  pre/erVd  hy  the  Natbes, ' 

AROD  of  Oak,  of  four,  five,  fix  or  eight 
Inches  about,  cwiited  round  like  a  Wyth 
boird  in  Wort,  well  dried  and  kept  in  a  Jittle 
Bundle  of  Barley-Straw,  and  being  fteep'd  again 
in  Wort,  caufeth  it  to  ferment,  and  procures 
Teafi :  the  Rod  is  cut  before  the  Middle  of  A/47, 
and  is  frequently  us'd  to  furnilL  Teafi ;  and  being 
preferved  and  us*d  in  this  manner,  it  ferves  for 
many  Years  together.  I*  have  feen  the  Experi- 
ment try'd,  and  was  fliew'd  a  Piece  of  a  thick 
Wyth,  which  hath  been  prefer v'd  for  making 
Ale  with,  for  about  twenty  or  thirty  years. 


7h 


Weftern  IJlands  of  Scotland,      1 9  5 

The  EjfeEis  of  eating  Hemhchc^ot, 

FERGVS  K,A1RD  an  Empirick,  living 
in  the  Village  Talisker,  having  by  a  mif- 
take  catena  Hemlock-Root,  inftead  of  the  white 
Wild  Carrot ;  his  Eyes  did  prefently  roll 
about,  his  Countenance  beqme  very  pale,  his 
Sight  had  almoft  failM  him,; the  Frame  of  his 
Body  was  all  in  a  ftrange  Convulfion,  and  his 
Pude»da  retir'd  fo  inwardly,  that  ihere  was  no 
difcerning  whether  he  had  then  been  Male  or 
Female,  All  the  Remedy  given  him  in  this 
State  was  a  draught  of  hot  Milk,  and  a  little 
JquA-f^ita  added  to  it;  which  he  no  fooner 
drank,  but  he  vomited  prefently  after,  yet  the 
Root  ftill  remain'd  in  his  Stomach.  They 
continu'd  to  adminifter  the  fame  Remedy  for 
the  fpace  of  four  or  five  hours  together,  but 
in  vain  ;  and  about  an  hour  after  they  ceas'd  to 
give  him  any  thing,  he  voided  the  Root  by 
Stool,  and  then  was  reftor'd  to  his  former 
flate  of  health  :  he  is  ftill  living,  for  any  thing 
I  know,  and  is  of  a  ftrong  healthful  Confti- 
tution. 

SOME  few  years  ago,  all  the  Flax  in  the 
Barony  of  Trotemefs  was  over-run  with  a 
great  quantity  of  Green  Worms,  which  in  a 
few  days  would  have  deftroyM  it,  had  not  a 
Flock  of  Ravens  made  a  Tour  round  the 
N  ground 


194      ^  D  E  S  C  R  I  P  T  1  O  N   o/  t^e 

ground  where  the  Flax  grew,  for  the  fpace  of 
fourteen  Miles,  and  eat  up  the  Worms  in  a 
very  Ihort  time. 

THE  Inhabitants  of  thislfle  are  generally 
well  proportion'd,  and  their  Complexion  is 
for  the  nnofl:  part  black.  They  are  not  oblig'd 
to  Art  in  forming  their  Bodies,  for  Nature  ne- 
ver fails  to  aQ- her  part  bountifully  to  them; 
and  perhaps  there  is  no  part  of  the  habitable 
Globe  where  fo  few  bodily  ImperfeQions  are 
to  be  feen,  nor  any  Children  that  go  more  early. 
I  have  obferv'd  feveral  of  them  walk  alone 
before  they  were  ten  Months  old :  they  are 
bath'd  all  over  every  Morning  and  Evening, 
fome  in  cold,  fome  in  warm  Water ;  but  .the 
latter  is  moft  commonly  us'd,  and  they  wear 
nothing  ftrait  about  them.  The  Mother  gene- 
rally fuckks  the  Child,  failing  of  which,  a 
Nurfe  is  provided,  for  they  feldom  bring  up 
any  by  hand  :  they  give  New-born  Infants 
frefh  Butter  to  take  away  the  Miconium^  and 
this  they  do  for  feveral  days ;  they  tafte  nei- 
ther Sugar,  nor  Cinamon,  nor  have  they  any 
daily  allovvance  of  Sack  beftowed  on  them,  as 
the  Cuftom  is  elfewhere,  nor  is  the  Nurfe  al- 
lowed to  tafte  Ale. 

THE  Generality  wear  neither  Shoes  nor 
Stockings  before  they  are  feven,  eight  or  ten 
years  old  ;  and  many  among  them  wear  no 
Night-Caps  before  they  are  lixteen  years  old, 

and 


Wejlern  I/Iands  of  Scothnd.      195 

and  upwards ;  fome  ufe  none  all  their  life-time, 
and  thefe  are  not  fo  liable  to  Headaches,  as  o- 
thers  who  keep  their  Heads  warm. 

THEY  ufe  nothing  by  way  of  prevention 
of  Sicknefs,  obferving  it  as  a  Rule  to  do  little 
or  nothing  of  that  nature.  The  Abftemiouf- 
nefs  of  the  Mothers  is  no  fmall  advantage  to 
the  Children :  they  are  a  very  prolifick  Peo- 
ple, fo  that  many  of  their  numerous  liTue  muft 
feek  their  Fortune  on  the  Continent,  and  not  a 
few  in  Foreign  Countries,  for  want  of  Imploy- 
ment  at  home.  When  they  are  any  way  fa- 
tigu'd  by  Travel,  or  otherways,  they  fail  not 
to  bathe  their  Feet  in  warm  Water,  wherein 
red  Mofs  has  been  boil'd,  and  rub  them  with 
it  going  to  Bed. 

THE  antient  Cuftom  of  rubbing  the  Body 
by  a  warm  hand  oppofite  to  the  Fire,  is  now 
laid  a  fide,  except  from  the  lower  part  of  the 
Thigh,  downwards  to  the  Ancle;  this  they 
rub  before  and  behind,  in  cold  weather,  and  at 
going  to  Bed.  Their  fimple  Diet  contributes 
much  to  their  State  of  Health,  and  long  Life  ; 
feveral  among  them  of  my  Acquaintance  arriv'd 
at  the  Age  of  Eighty,  Ninety,  and  upwards ; 
but  the  Lady  Mack-Leod  liv'd  to  the  Age  of  one 
hundred  and  three  years :  fhe  had  then  a  comely 
head  of  Hair,  and  a  cafe  of  good  Teeth,  and 
always  enjoy'd  the  free  ufe  of  her  Underftand- 
ing,  until  the  Week  in  which  fhe  died. 

N  3  THE 


\^6     >4  Description  of  the 

THE  Inhabitants  of  this  and  all  the  W^f- 
tcrn  Ifles,  do  wear  their  Shoes  after  Mr.  Lock^s 
mode,  in  his  Book  of  Education  ;  and  among 
other  great  advantages  by  it,  they  reckon  thefe 
two,  1  hat  they  are  never  troubled  with  the 
Gout,  or  Corns  in  their  Feet. 

THEY  lie  for  the  moft  part  on  Beds  of 
Straw,  and  fome  on  Beds  of  Heath ;  which 
latter  being  made  after  their  way,  with  the 
tops  uppermoft,  are  almoftas  foft  as  a  Feather- 
bed, and  yield  a  pleafant  fcent  after  lying  on  'em 
once.  The  Natives  by  experience  have  found 
it  to  be  effectual  for  drying  fuperfluous  Hu- 
mours, and  ftrengthning  the  Nerves.  It  is 
very  refrefhing  after  a  Fatigue  of  any  kind. 
The  Pi^h  are  faid  to  have  had  an  Art  of  Brew- 
ing curious  Ale  with  the  tops  of  Heath,  but- 
they  refus'd  to  communicate  it  to  the  Scots,  and 
fo  'tis  quite  loft. 

A  NATIVE  of  this  Ifle  requires  treble 
the  Dofe  of  Phyfick  that  will  ferve  one  living  in 
the  South  of  Scotland  for  a  Purge;  yet  an 
Iflander  is  eafier  purged  in  the  South,  than  at 
home.  Thofe  of  the  beft  Rank  are  eafier 
wrought  on  by  purging  Medicines,  than  the 
Vulgar. 

THE  Inhabitants  are  of  all  People  eafieft 
cured  of  green  Wounds ;  they  are  not  fo  liable 

CO 


Weftent  IJIands  of  Scotland.        i  ^7 

to  Fevers  as  others  on  fuch  Occafions ;  and  there- 
fore they  never  cut  off  Arm,  or  Leg,  tho  never 
fo  ill  broke,  and  take  the  freedom  to  ven-.ure 
on  all  kind  of  Meat  and  Drink,  contrary  to  all 
Rule  in  fuch  cafes,  and  yet  commonly  recover 
of  their  Wounds. 

MANY  of  the  Natives,  upon  occafion  of 
ficknefs,  are  difpofed  to  try  Experiments,  in 
which  they  fucceed  fo  well,  that  I  could  not 
hear  of  theleaft  Inconvenience  attending  their 
Praftice.  I  fhall  only  bring  one  Inftance  more 
of  this,  and  that  is  of  the  illiterate  Empirick 
Neil  Beaton  in  Skie ;  who  of  late  is  fo  weU 
known  in  the  Ifles  and  Continent,  for  his  great 
fuccefs  in  curing  feveral  dangerous  Diflempers, 
tho  he  never  appeared  in  the  quality  of  a  Phyfi' 
cian  until  he  arrived  at  the  Age  of  Forty  Years, 
and  then  alfo  without  the  advantage  of  Educa- 
tion. He  pretends  to  judg  of  the  various  quali- 
ties of  Plants,  and  Roots,  by  their  different 
Taftes;  he  has  like  wife  a  nice  Obfervation  of  the 
Colours  of  their  Flowers,  from  which  he  learns 
their  aftringent  and  loofening  qualities:  he  ex- 
tracts the  Juice  of  Plants  and  Roots,  after  a 
Chymical  way,  peculiar  to  hitnfelf,  and  with 
little  or  no  charge. 

HE  confiders  his  Patients  Conftitution  be- 
fore any  Medicine  is  adminiffred  to  them  ;  and 
he  has  form'd  fuch  a  Syftem  for  curing  Difeafes, 
as  ferves  for  a  Rule  to  him  upon  all  Occafions  of 
this  nature.  N  3  HE 


ipS     ^Description  of  the 

H  E  treats  Riveriui'^s  Lilium  Medicinx^  and 
fome  other  Praftical  Pieces  that  he  has  heard  of, 
with  Contempt ;  fince  in  feveral  Inftances  it  ap- 
pears that  their  Method  of  Curing  has  fail'd, 
where  his  had  good  Succefs. 

SOME  of  the  Difeafes cured  by  him  areas 
follows :  Running  Sores  in  Legs  and  Arms, 
grievous  Head-aches ;  he  had  the  boldnefs  to 
cut  a  piece  out  of  a  Woman's  Skull  broader 
than  half  a  Crown,  and  by  this  reftored  her  to 
perfed  Health.  A  Gentlewoman  of  my  Ac- 
quaintance having  contra^ed  a  dangerous  Pain 
in  her  Belly,  fome  days  after  her  Deliverey 
of  a  Child,  and  feveral  Medicines  being  us'd, 
file  was  thought  paft  recovery,  if  (he  continued 
in  that  Condition  a  few  hours  longer ;  at  lafl; 
this  Doftor  happen'd  to  come  there,  and  being 
imploy'd,  apply'd  a  Simple  Plant  to  the  part 
affefted,  and  reftored  the  Patient  in  a  quarter  of 
an  hour  after  the  Application. 

O  N  E  of  his  Patients  told  me  that  he  fent 
him  a  Cap  interlined  with  fome  Seeds,  &c,  to 
wear  for  the  Cough,  which  it  remov'd  in  a 
Jitrle  time  ;  and  it  had  the  like  effeft  upon  his 
Brother. 


THE  Succefs  attending  this  Man's  Cures 
was  fo  extraordinary ,  that  feveral  People 
thought  his  Performances  to  have  proceeded 

rather 


i 


Wejlern  IJlands  of  Scotland.      199 

rather  from  a  Compaft  with  the  Devil,than  from 
the  Virtue  of  Simples.  To  obviate  this,  Mr. 
Benton  pretends  to  have  had  feme  Education 
from  his  Father,  tho  he  died  when  he  himfelf 
was  but  a  Boy.  I  have  difcoursM  him  feri- 
cufly  at  different  times,  and  am  fully  fatisfied, 
that  he  ufes  no  unlawful  means  for  obtaining  his 
end. 

HIS  Difcourfe of  the  feveral  Conftitutions, 
the  Qualities  of  Plants,  &c.  was  more  folid 
than  could  be  expeded  from  one  of  his  Educa- 
tion. Several  fick  People  from  remote  Ides 
came  to  him  ;  and  fome  from  the  Shire  of  Ko/x, 
at  70  Miles  diftance,  fent  for  his  Advice:  I  left 
him  very  fuccefsful,  but  can  give  no  further 
Account  of  him  fince  that  time. 

THEY  are  generally  a  very  fagacious  Peo- 
ple, quick  of  Apprehenfion,  and  even  the  Vul- 
gar exceed  all  thofe  of  their  Rank,  and  Educa- 
tion, I  ever  yet  faw  in  any  other  Country. 
They  have  a  great  Genius  for  Mufick  and  Me- 
chanicks.  I  have  obferved  feveral  of  their 
Children,  that,  before  they  could  fpeak,  were 
capable  to  dift inguifh  and  make  choice  of  one 
Tune  before  another  upon  the  Violin  ;  for  they 
appear'd  always  uneafy  until  the  Tune  which 
they  fancied  beft  was  play'd,  and  then  they  ex- 
prefs'd  their  fatisfaftion  by  the  motions  of  their 
Head  and  Hands. 

N4  THERE 


200     ^Description  o/tk 

THERE  are  feveral  of  'em,  who  invent 
Tunes  very  taking  in  the  South  of  Scotland^ 
and  elfewhere;  feme  Muficians  have  endea- 
voured to  pafs  for  fir  ft  Inv  enters  of  them  by 
changing  their  Name,  but  this  has  been  imprac- 
ticable; for  whatever  Language  gives  the  mo- 
dern Name,  the  Tune  ftill  continues  to  fpeak 
its  true  Original :  and  of  this  I  have  been  Ihew'd 
feveral  Inftances. 

SOME  of  the  Natives  are  very  dextrous  in 
engraving  Trees,  Birds,  Deer,  Dogs,  &c.  up- 
on Bone,  and  Horn,  or  Wood,  without  any  o- 
ther  Tool  than  a  fharp-pointed  Knife. 

SEVERAL  of  both  Sexes  have  a  quick 
Vein  of  Poefy,  and  in  their  Language  (which 
is  very  Emphatick)  they  compofe  Rhyme  and 
Verfe,  both  which  powerfully  affeft  the  Fancy : 
And  in  my  Judgment  (which  is  not  fingular  in 
this  mattei)  with  as  great  force  as  that  of  any 
antientor  modern  Poet  I  ever  yet  read.  They 
have  generally  very  retentive  Memories,  they 
fee  things  at  a  great  diftance.  The  unhappinefs 
of  their  Education,  and  their  want  of  Converfe 
with  foreign  Nations,  deprives  them  of  the  op- 
portunity to  cultivate  and  beautify  their  Genius, 
which  feems  to  have  been  form'd  by  Nature  for 
great  Attainments.  And  on  the  other  hand, 
their  Retirednefs  may  be  rather  thought  an  ad- 
vantage, at  leaft  to  their  better  part;  accord- 
ing 


Wejlern  JJlands  of  Scotland.      201 

ing  to  that  of  the  Hiftorian ;  Plus  valuit  apad 
hos  Ignorantia  Vitiorum,  quam  apud  Gr^cos  om» 
nia  precept  a  Philofo^horum  :  The  Ignorance 
of  Vices  is  more  powerful  among  thofe,  than 
all  the  Precepts  of  Philofophy  are  among  the 
Greeks, 

FOR  they  are  to  this  day  happily  ignorant 
of  many  Vices  that  are  pradifed  in  the  Learned 
and  Polite  World :  I  could  mention  feveral,  for 
which  they  have  not  as  yet  got  a  Name,  or  fo 
much  as  a  Notion  of  them. 

THE  Diet  generally  us'd  by  the  Natives, 
confifts  of  frefh  Food,  for  they  feldom  tafte  any 
thatis  falted,  except  Biirter  ;  the  generality  eat 
but  little  Flefh,  and  only  Perfons  of  diftin&on 
eat  it  every  day,  and  make  three  Meals,  for  all 
the  reft  eat  only  two,  and  they  eat  more  BoiI'd 
than  Roafted.  Their  ordinary  Diet  is  Butter, 
Cheefe,  Milk,  Potatoes,  Col  worts,  Brochan 
i.  e.  Oatmeal  and  Water  boil'd  ;  the  latter 
taken  with  fome  Bread  is  the  conftant  Food  of 
feveral  Thoufands  of  both  Sexes  in  this  and 
other  Ifles,  during  the  Winter  and  Spring : 
yet  they  undergo  many  Fatigues  both  by  Sea 
and  Land,  and  are  very  healthful.  This  veri- 
fies what  the  Poet  faith,  Populis  fat  e(i  Lym- 
ph aque  Cerefque :  Nature  is  fatisfied  with  Bread 
and  Water. 


THERE 


202     ^Description  of  the 

THERE  is  no  Place  fo  well  ftored  with 
fuch  great  quantity  of  good  Beef  and  Mutton, 
where  fo  little  of  both  is  confum'd  by  eating. 
They  generally  life  no  fine  Sauces  to  entice  a 
falfe  Appetite,  nor  Brandy,  or  Tea  for  Di- 
geflion ;  the  pureft  Water  fefves  them  inSfuch 
Cafes :  this  together  with  their  ordinary  Exer- 
cife,  and  the  free  Air,  preferves  their  Bodies 
and  Minds  in  a  regular  Frame,  free  from  the; 
various  Convulfions  that  ordinarily  attend  Luxu- 
ry. There  is  not  one  of  them  too  Corpulent, 
nor  too  Meagre. 

THE  Men-Servants  have  always  double  the 
quantity  of  Bread,  &c^  that  is  given  to  Wo- 
men-Servants, at  which  the  latter  are  no  ways 
offended,  in  regard  of  the  many  Fatigues  by 
Sea  and  Land,  which  the  former  undergo. 

00  N,  which  in  Englijb  fignifies  Froth,  is  a 
Difh  us'd  by  feveral  of  the  I/taftders,  and  fome 
en  the  oppofite  Main-Land,  in  time  of  Scarcity, 
when  they  want  Bread :  it  is  made  in  the  fol- 
lowing manner ;  A  quantity  of  Milk  or  Whey 
is  boil'd  in  a  Pot,  and  then  it  is  wrought  up 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Pot  with  a  long  Stick  of 
Wood,  having  a  Crofs  at  the  lower-end  ;  it  is 
turn'd  about  like  the  Stick  for  making  Choco- 
late :  and  being  thus  made,  it  is  fupp'd  with 
Spoons.  It  is  made  up  five  or  fix  times,  in  the 
fame  manner,  and  the  laft  is  always  reckon'd  befl:, 

and 


Wefiern  IJlands  of  Scotland,     loj 

and  the  firft  two  or  three  frothings  the  worft  : 
the  Milk  or  Whey  that  is  in  the  bottom  of  the 
Pot  is  reckon'd  much  better  in  all  refpefts  than 
fimple  Milk.  It  may  be  thought  that  fuch  as 
feed  after  this  rate,  are  not  fit  for  Aftion  of 
any  kind  ;  but  I  have  feen  feveral  that  liv'd  up- 
on this  fort  of  Food,  made  of  Whey  only,  for 
fome  Months  together,  and  yet  they  were  able 
to  undergo  the  ordinary  Fatigue  of  their  Imploy- 
ments,  whether  by  Sea  or  Lan'd  :  and  I  have 
feen  them  travel  to  the  tops  of  high  Mountains, 
as  briskly  as  any  I  ever  faw. 

SOME  who  live  plentifully,make  thIsDifhas 
abovefaid  of  Goats  Milk,  which  is  faid  to  be  nou- 
rifhing ;  the  Milk  is  thickned,  and  taftes  much 
better  after  fo  much  working  :  fome  add  a  little 
Butter  and  Nutmeg  to  it.  I  was  treated  with 
this  Difh  in  feveral  Places,  and  being  ask'd  whe- 
ther this  faid  Difh'or  Chocolate  was  beft,  I  told 
them  that  if  we  judged  by  the  EfFefts,  this 
Difh  was  preferable  to  Chocolate  ;  for  fuch  as 
drink  often  of  the  former,  enjoy  a  better  ftate 
of  Health,  than  thofe  who  ufe  the  latter. 


Craddan. 


104      ^  D  E  S  C  R  I  P  T  1 0  N  o/  r/;e 

.    Graddan, 


TH  E  anticnt  way  of  dreflTing  Corn,  which 
is  yet  us'd  in  feveral  Ifles,  is  callM 
Graddan,  from  the  Irifh  word  Grad;  which 
fignifies  quick.  A  Woman  fitting  down,  takes 
a  handful  of  Corn,  holding  it  by  the  Stalks  in 
her  left  hand,  and  then  fets  fire  to  the  Ears, 
which  are  prefently  in  a  flame :  fhe  has  a  Stick 
in  her  right  hand,  which  fhe  manages  very 
dex  xufly,  beating  off  the  Grain  at  the  very 
inftai  ■,  when  the  Husk  is  quite  burnt;  for  if 
fhe  n)  fs  of  that,  (lie  mufl:  ufe  the  Kiln,  but 
E^perj^nce  has  taught  them  this  Art  to  per- 
feQion  The  Corn  may  be  fo  drefTed,  win- 
nowed, ground,  and  baked,  within  an  Hour  af- 
ter reaping  from  the  Ground.  The  Oat  bread 
drefied  as  above  is  loofening,  and  that  dfefs'd 
in  the  Kiln  aflringent,  and  of  greater 
ftrength  for  Labourers :  But  they  love  the 
Graddan,  as  being  more  agreeable  to  their 
Tafte.  This  barbarous  Cuftom  is  much  laid 
afide,  fince  the  number  of  their  Mills  encreas'd. 
Captain  Fairtveather,  Mafter  of  an  Englifh 
Veflel,  having  dropt  Anchor  at  Bernera  of 
Glemlg  over  againft  Skie^  faw  two  Women 
at  this  Imploymenr,  and  wondring  to  fee  fo 
much  Flame  and  Smoak,  he  came  near,  and 
finding  that  it  was  Corn  they  burnt,  he  run 
away  in  great  hafte,   telling  the  Natives  that 

he 


Weflern  Ijlmds  of  Scotland.     20  j 

he  had  feen  two  mad  Women  very  bufy  burn- 
ing Corn  :  the  People  came  to  fee  what  the 
matter  was,  and  laugh'd  at  the  Captain's  Mif- 
take,  tho  he  was  not  a  little  furpriz'd  at  the 
Strangenefs  of  a  Cuflom  that  he  had  never  feen 
or  heard  of  before. 

THERE  are  two  Fairs  of  late  held  yearly 
at  Fortry  on  the  Eaft-fide  of  Skie :  tlie  Conve- 
nience of  the  Harbour,  which  is  in  the  middle 
of  the  Ifle,  made  'em  chufe  this  for  the  firreft 
Place.  The  fir  ft  holds  about  the  middle  of 
June^  the  fecond  about  the  beginning  ot  Sep- 
tember. The  various  Produds  of  this  and  the 
adjacent  Ifles  and  Continent,  are  fold  here :  viz., 
Horfes,  Cows,  Sheep,  Goats,  Hides,  Skins, 
Butter,  Cheefe,  Fifh,  Wool,  &c. 

ALL  the  Horfes  and  Cows,  fold  at  the 
Fair,  fwim  to  the  main  Land  over  one  of  the 
Ferries  or  Sounds  callM /Cj/^^ ;  one  of  which 
is  on  the  Eaft,  the  other  on  the  South-fide  of 
Skie,  That  on  the  Eaft  is  about  a  Mile  broad, 
and  the  other  on  the  South  is  half  a  Mile : 
They  begin  when  it  is  near  low  Water,  and 
faften  a  twifted  Wyth  about  the  lower  Jaw  of 
each  Cow,  the  other  end  of  the  Wyth  is  faf- 
ten'd  to  another  Cow's  Tail,  and  the  Number 
fo  tied  together  is  commonly  five.  A  Boat 
with  four  Oars  rows  off,  and  a  Man  fitting  in 
the  Stern,  holds  the  Wyth  in  his  Hand  to  keep 
up  the  fpr^moft  Cow's  Head ;  and  thus  all  the 

five 


20^     ^Description  of  the 

•  RvQ  Cows  fwim  as  faft  as  the  Boat  rows :  and 
in  this  manner  above  an  hundred  may  be  fer- 
Fied  over  in  one  day.  Thefe  Cows  are  fome- 
times  drove  above  400  Miles  further  South; 
they  foon  grow  fat,  and  prove  fweet  and  ten- 
der Beef. 


Their  Habit, 


THE  firft  Habit  wore  by  Perfons  of  Dif- 
tinftion  in  the  Iflands,  was  the  Lem- 
Crotch,  from  the  Irijb  word  Lem,  which  fig- 
nifies  a  Shirr,  and  Crotch  Saffron,  becaufe  their 
Shirt  was  dyed  with  that  Herb :  the  ordinary 
number  of  Ells  us'd  to  make  this  Robe,  was 
twenty  four  ;  it  was  the  upper  Garb,  reaching 
below  the  Knees,  and  was  tied  with  a  Belt 
round  the  middle :  but  the  Iflanders  have  laid 
it  a  fide  about  a  hundred  Years  ago. 

THEY  now  generally  ufe  Coat,  Waftcoat, 
and  Breeches,  aselfewhere  ;  and  on  their  Heads 
wear  Bonnets  made  of  thick  cloth,  fome  blue, 
fome  black,  and  fome  grey. 

MANY  of  the  People  wear  Trowu:  fome 
have  them  very  fine  woven  like  Stockings  of 
thofe    made   of  Cloth  -,     fome  are  coloured, 

and 


Wefteni  Ijlands  of  Scotland.     207 

and  others  ftriped :  the  latter  are  as  well 
fhap'd  as  the  former,  lying  clofe  to  the  Body 
from  the  middle  downwards,  and  tied  round 
with  a  Belt  above  the  Haunches.  There  is  a 
fquare  Piece  of  Cloth  which  hangs  down  be- 
fore. The  Meafure  for  fliaping  the  Trorvis  is 
a  Stick  of  Wood,  whofe  Length  is  a  Cubit,  and 
that  divided  into  the  Length  of  a  Finger,  and 
half  a  Finger ;  fo  that  it  requires  more  Skill  to 
make  it,  than  the  ordinary  Habit. 

THE  Shoes  antiently  wore,  were  a  piece 
of  the  Hide  of  a  Deer,  Cow,  or  Horfe,  with 
the  Hair  on,  being  tied  behind  and  before 
with  a  Point  of  Leather.  The  generality  now 
wear  Shoes,  having  one  tVin  Sole  only,  and 
fhaped  after  the  right  and  left  Foot  ;  fo  that 
what  is  for  one  Foot,  will  not  ferve  the 
other. 

BUT  Perfons  of  Diftin(9:ion  wear  the  Garb 
in  fafhion  in  the  South  of  Scotland. 

THE  Plad  wore  only  by  the  Men,  is  made 
of  fine  Wool,  the  Thred  as  fine  as  can  be 
made  of  that  kind  ;  it  confirts  of  divers  Co- 
lours, and  there  is  a  great  deal  of  Ingenuity 
requir'd  in  forting  the  Colours,  fo  as  to  be  a- 
grceable  to  the  niceft  Fancy.  For  this  reafon 
the  Women  are  at  great  pains,  firft  to  give  an 
exafl:  Pattern  of  the  PUd  upon  a  piece  of 
Wood,  having  the  number  of  every  Thred  of 

the 


jo8      J  Description  o/^k 

the  Stripe  on  it.  The  Length  of  it  is  common- 
ly feven  double  Ells ;  the  one  end  hangs  by  the 
Middle  over  the  left  Arm,  the  other  going 
round  the  Body,  hangs  by  the  end  over  the 
left  Arm  alfo:  the  right  Hand  above  it  is  to 
be  at  liberty  to  do  any  thing  upon  occafion. 
Every  Ifle  differs  from  each  other  in  their  Fancy 
of  making  P/4^j,  as  to  the  Stripes  in  Breadth, 
and  Colours.  This  Humour  is  as  different  thro 
the  main  Land  of  the  HighUnds^  in-fo-far  that 
they  who  have  feen  thofe  Places,  are  able,  at  the. 
firft  View  of  a  Man's  PUdj  to  guefs  the  Place 
of  his  Refidence. 

\^HEN  they  travel  on  foot,  the  FUd  is 
tied  on  the  Breaft  with  a  Bodkin  of  Bone  or 
Wood  (juft  as  the  S^wa.  wore  by  the  Germans^ 
according  to  the  Defcription  of  C.  Tacitii^  : ) 
the  PUd  is  tied  round  the  middle  with  a 
Leather  Belt ;  it  is  pleated  from  the  Belt  to 
the  Knee  very  nicely  :  this  Drefs  for  Footmen 
is  found  much  eafier  and  lighter  than  Breeches^ 
or  Trowis. 

THE  antient  Drefs  wore  by  the  Women, 
and  which  is  yet  wore  by  fome  of  the  Vulgar, 
called  Arifad^  is  a  white  Plxd^  having  a  few 
fmall  Stripes  of  black,  blue,  and  red  ;  it 
reach'd  from  the  Neck  to  the  Heels,  and  was 
tied  before  on  the  Breaft  with  a  Buckle  of 
Silver,  or  Brafs,  according  to  the  Quality  of 
the  Perfon,     I  have  feen  fome  of  the  former 

of 


Weftei^n  Iflands  of  Scotland.     209 

of  an  hundred  Marks  value;  it  was  broad  as 
any  orilinary  Pewter  Plate,  the  whole  curi- 
oufly  engraven  with  various  Animals,  &c. 
There  was  a  lefler  Buckle,  which  was  wore  in 
the  middle  of  the  larger,  and  above  two  Oun- 
ces weight ;  it  had  in  the  Cenrer  a  large  piece 
of  Chryftal,  or  fome  finer  Sfone,  and  this 
was  fet  all  round  with  feveral  finer  Stones  of  a 
lefler  fize. 

THE  ?Ui  being  pleated  all  round,  was 
tied  with  a  Belt  below  the  Breaft ;  the  Belt  was 
of  Leather,  and  feveral  Pieces  of  Silver  inter- 
mixed with  the  Le(ather  like  a  Chain.  The 
Iov*'er  end  of  the  feelt  has  a  Piece' of  Plate  a- 
bout  eight  Inches  long  and  three  in  breadth, 
curioufly  engraven  ;  the  end  of  which  was 
adorried  with  fine  Stones,  or  Pieces  of  Re4 
Cora!.  They  wore  Sleeves"  of  Scarlet  Cloth, 
closed'  it  the  end  as'Mens  Vefts,  with  Gold 
Lace  round  'ecn,  haying  Plate  Burtons  fet  with 
fine  Sfones.  The  Head-drefs  was  a  fine  Kjr^ 
chtef  of  Linen  ftrait  about  the  Head,- hanging 
down  the  Back  taper- vVife  ;  a  large  Lock  of 
Hair  hangs  down  their  Cheeks  above  their 
Br.aft,  the  lower  end.  ti^d  \^ith  a  Knot  of 
Ribbands.  '"  'i*^' ,"V,;..;,4 

THE  Iflindefs  have  a  great  refpe^  for  their 

Chiefs  and  Heads  of  Tribes,  and  they  conclude 

Grace  after   every   Meal,    with  a  Petition   to 

God  for  their  Welfare  and  Profperity.     Nei« 

O  ther 


210     ^  Description  o/tfce 

^her  will  they,  as  far  as  in  them  lies,  fufFer  them 
to  fink  under  any  Misfortune  ;  but  in  cafe  of  a 
Decay  of  Eftate,  make  a  voluntary  Contribu- 
tion on  their  behalf,  as  a  common  Duty,  to  fup- 
port  the  Credit  of  their  Families. 


Way  fo    Fighting. 

THE  antient  way  of  Fighting  was  by  fee 
Battles ;  and  for  Arms  fome  had  broad 
two-handed  Swords  and  Head-pieces,  and  o- 
thers  Bows  and  Arrows.  When  all  their  Ar- 
rows were  fpent,  they  attack'd  one  another 
with  Sword  in  hand.  Since  the  Invention  of 
Guns,  they  are  very  early  accuftomed  to  ufe 
them,  and  cany  their  Pieces  with  them  wherc- 
ever  they  go :  They  likewife  learn  to  handle  the 
broad  Sword  and  Target.  The  Chfef  of  each 
Tribe  advances  with  his  Followers  within  fliot 
of  the  Enemy,  having  firft  laid  afide  their  up- 
per Garments ;  and  after  one  general  Difcharge, 
they  attack  them  with  Sword  in  hand,  having 
their  Target  on  their  left  Hand  (as  they  did  at 
Kj  Iter  inky)  which  foon  brings  the  Matter  to  an 
IfTue,  and  verifies  the  Obfervation  made  of  'em 
your  Hifl;orians : 

Jut  Mors  cifOy  atit  Vi^orU  Uta. 

THIS 


Weftern  JJJands  of  Scotland.     1 1 1 

l"  H 1 S  Ifle  is  divided  into  three  Parts,  w^iich 
are  pofleffed  by  different  Proprietors.  The 
Southern  part  call'd  SUit,  is  the  Property  and 
Title  of  Sir  Do^iald  Mack-Donald^  Knight  and 
Baronet:  his  Family  is  always  didinguifh'd 
from  all  the  Tribes  of  hi^  Name,  by  the  Iripj 
as  well  as  Euglifb^  and  csll'd  Mack-Donald 
abfolutely,  and  by  way  of  Excellence;  he 
being  rcckon'd  by  Gemalogiftsj  and  all  others, 
the  fid  for  Antiquity  among  aU  the  Antient 
Tribes,  both  in  the  Ifles  and  Continent.  He 
is  lineally  defcended  from  SommerUd^  who, 
according  to  Buchana?iy  was  Thane  of  Argyle, 
He  got  the  Ifles  into  his  PofTeflion  by  virtue 
of  his  Wife's  Right;  his  Son  was  call'd  Do- 
nald^  and  from  him  all  the  Families  of  the 
Name  Mack-Donald  are  defcended.  He  was 
the  firft  of  that  Name,  who  had  the  Tide  of 
King  of  the  Ifles.  One  of  that  N^me  fub- 
fcribing  a  Charter  granted  by  the  King  of  ^cots 
to  the  Family  of  Roxburgh^  writes  as  follows : 
Donald^  Kjng  of  the  IJles,  IVitnefs.  He  would 
not  pay  homage  to  the  King  for  the  ;fles,  but 
only  for  the  Lands  which  he  held  of  him  on 
the  Continent. 

ONE  bf  Donald^s  SuccelTors  married  a 
Daughter  of  King  Robert  the  Second,  the  firft  of, 
the  Name  of  Stuart ^  by  whom  he  acquired 
feveral  Lands  in  the  Highlands.  The  Earl- 
dom of  Rofs  came  to  this  Family,  by  marrying 
O  2  the 


212     ^Description  of  the 

the  Heirefs  of  the  Houfe  of  Lejlj,  One  of 
the  Earls  of  Rofs^  called  John,  being  of  an 
eafy  Temper,  and  too  liberal  to  the  Church, 
and  to  his  Vaffals  and  Friends,  his  Son  jE- 
ncM  (by  Buchanan  called  Donald)  was  fo 
oppofite  to  his  Father's  Conduft,  that  he  ga- 
thered together  an  Army  to  oblige  him  from 
giving  away  any  more  of  his  Eftate.  The 
Father  rais'd  an  Army  againft  his  Son,  and 
fought  him  at  Sea,  on  the  Coaftof  Mull-,  the 
Place  is  fince  called  the  Bloodj-Baj :  the  Son 
however  had  the  Viftory,  This  difpofed  the 
Father  to  go  ftraight  to  the  King,  and  make 
over  the  Right  of  all  his  Eftate  to  him. 
The  Son  kept  poffeflion  fome  time  after ; 
however,  this  occafion''d  the  Fall  of  that  great 
Family,  tho  there  are  yet  extant  feveral  an- 
tient  Tribes  of  the  Name,  both  in  the  Ifles 
and  Continent.  Thus  far  the  Genealogift 
Mack-Vurichf  and  Hugh  Mack-DonaU,  in  their 
Manufcripts. 

THE  next  adjacent  Part  to  Slait,  and  join- 
ing it  on  the  North-fide,  is  Strath  ;  it  is  the 
Property  of  the  Laird  oi  Mack-Kjnnon^  Head  of 
an  antient  Tribe. 

ON  the  North- Weft  fide  of  Strath  lies 
that  part  of  Skie  called  Mackleodh  Country, 
poflefled  by  Mackleod.  Genealogifts  fay  he 
is   lineally  defcended  from  Leod,    Son    to  the 

black 


Wejlern  JJlands  of  Scotland.       1 1 3 

black  Frince  of  Man  ;  he  is  Head  of  an  antient 
Tribe. 

THE  Barony  of  Trotermfs  on  the  North 
fide  Skie^  belongs  to  Sir  Donald  Mack- Donald  ; 
the  Proprietors  and  all  the  Inhabitants  are  Fro- 
teftants,  except  twelve,  who  are  Roman  Catho- 
tholicks.  The  former  obfervc  the  Feftivals  of 
ChriJlmaSy  Eafier^  Good- Friday^  and  that  of  St. 
Michael^.  Upon  the  latter  they  have  a  Caval- 
cade  in  each  Parifb,  and  feveral  Families  bake 
the  Cake  cali'd  St.  Michael's  Bannock, 


O  3  <B0OT. 


ai4     ^  Descriptio  N  o/tf?^ 

'BOOT 

THE  Ifle  of  Boot,  being  ten  Miles  in 
length,  lies  on  the  Weft  fide  of  Cow^l^ 
from  which  it  is  feparated  by  a  narrow  Chan- 
nel, in  federal  parts  not  a  Mile  broad.  The 
North-end  of  this  Ifle  is  mountainous  and  hea- 
thy, being  more  defign'd  for  Pafturage  than 
Cultivation  :  the  Mould  is  brown,  or  black,  and 
in  feme  parts  clayey  ;  the  Ground  yields  a  good 
Produce  of  Oats,  Barley,  and  Peafe  :  There  is 
but  little  Wood  growing  there,  yet  there  is  a 
Coppice  at  the  fide  of  Loch-fad.  The  Ground 
is  arable  from  the  middle  to  the  Southward,  the 
He5iic-ftone  is  to  be  had  in  many  parts  of  this 
Ifle  ;  and  there  is  a  Quarry  of  red  Stone  near 
the  Town  of  Rofa^  by  which  the  Fort  there, 
and  the  Chappel  on  its  North  fide,  have  been 
built.  Roth/ay,  the  head  Town  of  the  Shire  of 
Boot  and  Jrraif^  lies  on  the  Eaft  Coaft  of  Boot, 
and  is  one  of  the  Titles  of  the  Prince  of  6cot- 
hrni:  King  Robert  the  Third  created  his  Son 
Duke  of  Rothfdj^  and  Steward  oiScotUnd;  and 
afterwards  Queen  Mary  created  the  Lord  Darn- 
ley  Dpke  of  Rothfay,  before  her  Marriage  with 
him.  This  Town  is  a  very  Antient  Royal  Bo. 
rough,  but  thinly  peopled,  there  not  being  a- 
b  we  a  hundred  Families  in  it,  and  they  h^vc 
no  foreign  Trade.  On  the  NorthTide  of  Roth/ay 
there  ib  a  very  antient  ruinous  Fort,  round  in 

Form, 


Weflern  I/lands  of  Scotland.      2 1  5 

Form,  having  a  thick  Wall,  and  about  three 
Stories  high,  and  Paflages  round  within  the 
Wall ;  it  is  furrounded  with  a  wet  Ditch  ;  it  has 
a  Gate  on  the  South,  and  a  double  Gate  on  the 
Eaft,  and  a  Baftion  on  each  fide  the  Gate,  and 
without  thcfe  there's  a  Draw-Bridg,  and  the 
Sea  flows  within  40  Yards  of  it.  The  Fort  is 
large  enough  for  exercifing  a  Battalion  of  Men ; 
it  has  a  Chappel  and  feveral  little  Houfes  with- 
in, and  a  large  Houfe  of  four  Stories  high,  fron- 
ting the  Eaftern  Gate.  The  People  here  have  a 
Tradition,  that  this  Fort  was  built  by  King  Ro/a, 
who  is  faid  to  have  come  to  this  Ifle  before 
King  Fergus  the  Firft.  The  other  Forts  are 
Down-Owle  and  Down-Mm,  both  on  the  Weft- 
fide. 

THE  Churches  here  are  as  follow,  Kjlmhhel^ 
lOl'Blamf  and  Kji-ChAttan^  in  the  South  Parifh ; 
and  Lady-Kjrk  in  Rothfay  is  the  moft  Northerly 
Parifh  ;  all  the  Inhabitants  are  Proteftants. 

THE  Natives  here  are  not  troubled  with 
any  Epidemical  Difeafe  :  the  Small-pox  vifits 
them  commonly  once  every  fixth,  or  feventh 
Year.  The  oldeft  Man  now  living  in  this  Ifle,  is 
one  Fleming  a  Weaver  in  Rothfaj ;  his  Neigh- 
bours told  me  that  he  could  never  eafe  Nature 
at  Sea,  who  is  90  Years  of  Age.  1  he  Inha- 
bitants generally  fpeak  the  Engtifh  and  Irijh 
Tongue,  and  wear  the  fame  Habit  with  thofe 
of  the  other  Iflands;  they  are  very  induftrious 
C)  4  Filhers 


2\6    ^Description  o/tfe 

Fifiiers,  efpecially  for  Herring,  for  which  ufe 
they  are  furnifhed  with  about  80  large  Boats: 
the  Tenants  pay  their  Rent  with  the  Profit  of 
Herrings,  if  they  are  to  be  had  any  where  on 
the  Weftern  Coaft. 

THE  Principal  Heretors  here  are  Stuart  of 
Boot,  who  is  Hereditary  «S^er/^  of  this  Shire ; 
and  hath  his  Seat  in  Rofa :  BaUantwe  of  Kjams, 
whofe  Seat  is  at  the  Head  ot  the  Bay  ot  that 
Name,  and  has  an  Orchard  by  i.  :  Stutrt  of 
Eftick^  whofe  Seat  has  a  Park  and  Orchard.  And 
about  a  Mile  to  the  South  of  Rothfay^  next  lies 
two  Ifles  call'd  Cumhray  the  greater,  and  the 
lefTer  ;  the  former  is  within  a  League  of  Boot, 
This  Ifland  has  a  Chappel  and  a  Well,  which 
the  Natives  cfteem  a  Catholicon  for  all  Difca fes. 
This  Ifle  is  a  Mile  in  length,  but  the  other  Ifle 
is  much  lefs  in  Compafs.  Both  Ifles  are  the  Pro- 
perty of  Montgommerj  of  Hkelmorly, 


A%<iiAn, 


Wejlern  IJlanis  of  Scotland.     2 1 7 

TH  E  Name  of  this  Ifle  is  by  fome  derived 
from  Arran^  which  in  the  Irijb  Language 
fignifies  Bread  ;  Others  think  it  comes  more  pro- 
bably ivom  Ann,  ox  Arfyn,  which  in  their  Lan- 
gUdge  is  as  much  as  the  Place  of  the  Giant 
fm-MaC'CouW  Slaughter  or  Execution;  for 
Aat  fignifies  Slaughter,  and  fo  they  will  have 
Arin  only  the  Contradion  of  Arrin  or  fin. 
The  received  Tradition  of  the  great  Giant  fin- 
MaC'Cours  military  Valour,  which  he  excrcifed 
lipon  the  antient  Natives  here,  feems  to  favour 
this  Conjefture ;  this  they  fay  is  evident  from 
the  many  Stones  (at  up  in  divers  Places  of  the 
Ifle,  as  Monuments  upon  the  Graves  of  Per- 
fons  of  Note  that  were  kill'd  in  Battel.  This 
Ifle  is  twenty  four  MUgs  from  South  to  Norfh 
and  feven  Miles  from  Eaft  to  PVeft,  It  lies  be! 
tween  the  Ifle  of  Boot^  and  K>yntyre^  in  the  op- 
pofite  Main  land.  The  Ifle  is  high  and  moun- 
tainous, but  flopes  on  each  fide  round  the 
Coaft,  and  the  Glen  is  only  made  ufe  of  for  Til- 
lage. Th&  Mountains  near  Brodick-Bay  are  of 
a  confiderable  height ;  all  the  Hills  generally  af- 
ford a  good  Fafturage,  tho  a  great  part  of  'em 
be  covered  only  with  Heath. 

THE  Mould  here  is  of  divers  Colours,  being 
black  and  brown  near  the  Hills,  and  clayey  and 
fandy  upon  the  Coaft. 

THE 


2i8     ji  Description  of  the 

THE  Natives  told  me  that  fomc  Places  of 
the  Ifle  afford  Fullers- Earth.  The  Coaft  on 
the  Ea^  fide  is  rocky  near  the  Shore,  the 
Stones  on  the  Coaft,  for  fome  Miles  beneath 
Brodick^  are  all  of  a  red  Colour,  and  of  thefe 
the  Caftle  of  Brodick  is  built.  The  Natives 
fay  that  the  Mountains  near  the  Caftle  of  Bro- 
dick afford  Chryftal,  and  that  the  Dutchefs  of 
Hamilton  put  fo  great  a  Value  on  it,  as  to  be  at 
the  Charge  of  cutting  a  Necklace  of  it ;  which 
the  Inhabitants  take  as  a  great  Honour  done 
them,  becaufe  they  have  a  great  Veneration  for 
her  Grace.  There  is  no  confiderablc  Woods 
here,  but  a  few  Coppices,  yet  that  in  the  Glen 
towards  the  Weft  is  above  a  Mile  in  length. 
There  are  capacious  Fields  of  Arable  Ground 
on  each  fide  Brodick-Bzy^  as  alfo  on  the  oppo- 
fite  Weftern  Coaft.  The  largeft  and  beft  Field 
for  Pafturage  is  that  on  the  South-mfi  fide. 

SEVERAL  Rivers  on  each  fide  this  Ifle  af- 
ford Salmon,  particularly  the  two  Rivers  on 
the  IVefl  called  Mackir  fide,  and  the  two  in 
I(Jrkmichel  and  Brodick  Bay. 

THE  Air  here  is  temperately  cold  and 
moift,  which  is  in  fome  meafure  qualified  by 
the  freOi  Breezes  that  blow  from  the  Hills,  but 
the  Natives  think  a  Dram  of  Strong- waters  is  a 
good  Corredive. 

THERE 


Wejiern  Jpands  of  Scotland.     219 

THERE  are  feveral  Caves  on  the  Coaft  of 
this  Ifle :  thofe  on  the  Wefi  are  pretty  large,  par- 
ticularly that  in  Druim-cruej,  a  hundred  Men 
may  fit  or  lie  in  it ;  it  is  contradled  gradually 
from  the  Floor  upwards  to  the  Roof.  In  the  up- 
per-end there  is  a  large  piece  of  Rock  form'd 
like  a  Pillar  ;  there's  engraven  on  it  a  Deer,  and 
underneath  it  a  two-handed  Sword  ;  there  is  a 
void  fpace  on  each  fide  this  Pillar. 

THE  South-fide  of  the  Cave  has  a  Horfc- 
fhoe  engraven  on  it.  On  each  fide  the  Door, 
there's  a  hole  cut  out,  and  that  they  fay  was 
for  holding  big  Trees,  on  which  the  Caldrons 
hang  for  boiling  their  Beef  and  Venifon.  The 
Natives  fay  that  this  was  the  Cave  in  which  Fw- 
MaC'Cou I  lodged  during  the  time  of  his  refidence 
in  this  Ifie,  and  that  his  Guards  lay  in  the  lefTer 
Caves,  which  are  near  this  big  one ;  there  is 
a  little  Cave  joining  to  the  largelt,  and  this  they 
call  the  Cellar. 

THERE  is  a  Cave  fome  Miles  more  South- 
erly on  the  fame  Coaft,  and  they  told  me  that 
the  Minifter  preached  in  it  fometimes,  in  regard 
of  its  being  more  centrical  than  the  Parifh- 
Church 

SEVERAL  eref^ed  Stones  are  to  be  feen 
on  each  fide  this  Ifle  :  four  of  thefe  are  near 
BroMck' Bay,    about  the  diftance  of  70   Yards 

froni 


2  20     ^  Description  o/t^e 

from  the  River,  and  are  feven  foot  high  each. 
The  higheft  of  thefe  Stones  that  fell  under  my 
obfervaiion  was  on  the  South-fide  of  [(Jrkmichel 
River,  and  is  above  fifteen  Foot  high;  there  is 
a  Stone  Coffin  near  it,  which  has  been  filPd  with 
human  Bones,  until  of  late  that  the  River 
wafhed  away  the  Earth,  and  the  Bones  that 
were  in  the  Coffin  :  Mac-Louis ^  who  had  feen 
them,  fays  they  were  of  no  larger  fize  than 
thofe  of  our  own  time.  On  the  Weft  fide  there 
are  three  Stones  erefted  in  Baeliimimch,  and  a 
fourth  at  fome  diftance  from  thefe,  about  fix 
Foot  high  each.  In  the  Moor  on  the  Eaft-fide 
Druim-cruey^  there  is  a  Circle  of  Stones,  the 
Area  is  about  thirty  Paces ;  there  is  a  Stone  of 
the  famefhape  and  kind  about  forty  Paces  to  the 
Wejt  of  the  Circle :  the  Natives  fay  that  this 
Circle  was  made  by  the  Giant  Fin-MacCoul^ 
and  that  to  the  fingle  Stone,  Bran^  Fin- Mac- 
CouPs  Hunting-dog,  was  ufually  tied.  About 
half  a  Mile  to  the  North-fide  Baellminkh  there 
are  two  Stones  ereded,  each  of  thera  eight  Foot 
high. 

THERE  k  a  Circle  of  big  Stones  a  little 
to  th^  South  of  Druim-cruey^  the  Area  of  which 
is  about  twelve  Faces;  there  is  a  broad  thin 
Stone  in  the  middle  of  this  Circle,  fupported 
by  three  lefTer  Stones :  the  antient  Inhabitants 
are  reported  to  have  burnt  their  Sacrifices  on 
the  broad  Stone,  in  time  of  Heathenifm. 

THERE 


Wejlern  Jftands  of  Scotland.     2  2 1 

.:■  THERE  is  a  thin  broad  Stone  tapering  to- 
wards the  top,  erefted  within  a  quarter  of  a 
Jllile  of  the  Sea,  near  Machir  River,  and  is  nine 
Foot  high,  and  at  iome  little  diftance  frono  the 
River,  theie  is  a  large  Cavern  of  Stones. 

THERE  is  an  Eminence  of  about  a  thou- 
fand  Paces  in  Compafs  on  the  Sea«Coaft  in  Dru^ 
im-cruey  Village,  and  it  is  fenced  about  with  a 
Stone- Wall:  or  old  itwasa  Sanduary,and  what- 
ever number  of  Men  or  Cattle  could  get  with- 
in it,  were  fecured  from  the  affauhs  of  their  E- 
nemies,  the  Flace  being  privileged  by  Univer- 
fal  Confenc. 

THE  only  good  Harbour  in  this  Ifle  is  Lam- 
hjby  which  is  in  the  South- eaft  end  of  the  Ille  of 
that  Name. 

T  H  E  R  E  is  a  great  fifliing  of  Cod,  and  Whl^ 
ting^  in  and  about  this  Bay, 

THE  whole  Ifle  is  defign'd  by  Nature  more 
for  Pafturage.  than  Cultivation ;  the  Hifls  are 
generally  covered  all  over  with  Heath,  and  pro- 
duce a  mixture  of  the  £r/V4-B^^f//>r4,  Cats-tail^ 
and  Juniper^  all  which  are  very  agreeable  to 
the  Eye  in  the  Summer.  The  highell  Hills 
of  this  Ifland  are  feen  at  a  confiderable  diflance 
from  feveral  parts  of  the  Continent  and  North- 
weji  Ifles,  and  they  ferve  inftead  of  a  Foreft  to 

maintain 


til     ^  Description  of  the 

maintain  the  Deer,  which  are  about  four  hun- 
dred in  number,  and  they  are  carefully  kept  by 
a  Forefter,  to  give  fport  to  the  Dukeof  Hamit 
fon^  or  any  of  his  Family  that  go  a  Hunting 
there.  For  if  any  of  the  Natives  happen  to  kill 
a  Deer  without  Licence,  which  is  not  often 
granted,  he  is  liable  to  a  Fine  of  20  /.  Scots  for 
each  Deer.  And  when  they  grow  too  nume- 
rous, the  Forefter  grants  Licences  for  killing 
a  certain  number  of  them,  on  condition  they 
fcring  the  Skins  to  himfelf. 

THE  Cattle  here  are  Horfes  and  Cows  of 
a  middle  fize,  and  they  have  alfo  Sheep  and 
Goats.  This  Ifle  affords  the  common  Sea  and 
Land-Fowls  that  are  to  be  had  in  iht  Wejier» 
Ifles.  The  black  Cock  is  not  allow'd  to 
fee  killed  here  without  a  Licence-  theTranf- 
grelTors  are  liable  to  a  Fine. 

THE  Caftle  of  Brodick,  on  the  North  Jide  of 
the  Bay  of  that  Name,  ftands  on  a  Plain,  from 
which  there  is  about  400  Paces  of  a  gradual 
defcent  towards  the  Sea. 

THIS  Caftle  is  built  in  a  long  Form  ;  from 
South  to  North  there  is  a  Wall  of  two  Stories 
high,  that  encompafTes  the  Caftle  and  Tower: 
the  fpace  within  the  Wall  on  the  South-fide 
the  Caftle,  is  capable  of  muftring  a  Battalion 
of  Men. 

THE 


Wefiern  JJIands  of  Scotland.     223 

,  THE  Caftle  is  four  Stories  high,  and  has 
A  Tower  of  great  height  joined  to  the  Nonh- 
fide,  and  that  has  a  Baftion  clofe  to  it,  to  which 
a  lower  Baftion  is  added.  The  South  and  Wefi 
fides  are  furrounded  with  a  broad  wet  Ditch, 
but  the  EaH  and  North  fides  have  a  defcent 
which  will  not  admit  of  a  wet  Ditch.  The 
Gate  looks  to  the  Eaft,  This  Caftle  is  the 
Duke  of  Haf»iltofr*s  Scat f  when  his  Grace  or 
any  of  the  Family  make  their  Summer  Vifit  to 
this  Ifland.  The  Bayliff  or  Steward  has  his 
Refidence  in  this  Caftle,  and  he  has  a  Deputa- 
tion to  aft  with  full  power  to  levy  the  Rents, 
give  Leafes  of  the  Lands,  and  hold  Courts  of 
Juflice. 

THER  E  is  another  Caftle  belonging  to  the 
Duke  in  the  North-fUe  of  the  Ifle,  at  the  head  of 
Loch'KjmJiil^  in  which  there  is  a  Harbour 
for  Barks  and  Boats.  The  Ifle  of  Arran  is  the 
Duke  of  Hamilton's  Property  (a  very  fmall 
part  excepted)  it  lies  in  the  Sheriffdom  of  Boop^ 
and  made  part  of  the  Diocefs  of  Jrgyle, 

THE  Inhabitants  of  this  Ifland  are  compo- 
fed  of  feveral  Tribes.  7  he  moft  antient  Fa- 
mily among  them,  is  by  the  Natives  reckon'd 
to  be  Mack-Louuy  which  in  the  antient  Lan- 
guage fignifies  the  Son  of  Lewis:  they  own 
themfelvesto  be  defcended  of  French  Parentage, 
their  Sirname  in  Engltjh  is  Fulkrton^  and  their 

Title 


124     ^Description  of  th 

Title  Kjrk-Michell,  the  Place  of  their  Refidcnce. 
If  Tradition  be  true,  this  Jittic  Family  is  (aid  to 
be  of  700  years  ftanding.     The  prefent  PbflTef- 
»ibr  oblig'd  me  with  the  fight  of  his  old  and  new 
Charters,  by  which  he  is  one  of  the  King's  Co- 
roners within  this  Ifland,  and  as  fuch,  he  hath 
a  Halbert   peculiai^  to  his  Office;    he  has  his 
right   of  late    from  the  Family   of  Humilton^ 
wherein  his  Title  and  Perquifites  of  Coroner 
are  confirm'd  to  him  and  his  Heirs.     He  is  ob- 
lig'd to  have  three  Men  to  attend  him  upon 
all  publick  Emergencies,  and  he  is  bound  by 
his  Office  to  purfue  all  Malefactors,  and  to  dt- 
, liver  them  to  the  Steward,  or  in  his  abfence  to 
ihe  next  Judg.     And  if  any  cf  the  Inhabitants 
refufe  to  pay  their  Rents  at  the  ufual  teim,  the 
Coroner  is  bound  to  take  him  perfonally,  or  to 
feize  his  Goods.     And  if  it  fhould  happen  that 
the  Coroner  with  his  Retinue  of  three  Men  is 
not  fufficient  to  put  his  Office ,  in   Execution, 
then  he  fummons  all  the  Inhabitants  to  concur 
With  him  ;  and  inimediately  they  rendezvous  to 
the  place,  where  he  fixes  his  Coroner's  Staff. 
The  Perquifites  due  to  the  Coroner  area  Firlet 
or  Bufhel  of  Oats,    and  a  Lamb  from  every 
Village  in  the  Ifle  ;  both  which  are  punftualjy 
paid  him  at  the  ordinary  Terms. 

THE  Inhabitants  of  this  Ifle  are  well  pro- 
portion'd,  generally  brown,  and  fome  of  a 
black  Complexion ;  they  enjoy  a  good  flate 
of  Health,  and  have  a  Genius  for  all  Callings  or 

Imploy- 


Weftern  I/lands  of  Scotland.     225 

Imployments,  tho  they  have  but  few  Mecha- 
nicks :  they  wear  the  fame  Habit  with  thofe 
of  the  neareft  Ifles,  and  are  very  Civil ;  they 
all  fpeak  the  Iri/h  Language,  yet  the  Englifh 
Tongue  prevails  on  the  Eaf-fide^  and  ordinarily 
the  Minifters  preach  in  it,  and  in  Irt(h  on  the 
Weji'ftde.  Their  ordinary  AfTeveration' is  by 
Ndle,  for  I  did  not  hear  any  Oath  in  the 
Ifland. 


The  Churches  In  this  IJJe  are^ 

KILBRIDE  in  the  South-Eaft,  Kjlmore 
in  the  South,  CabeLVual  a  Chappel,  Kjl- 
michel  in  the  Village  of  that  name,  St.  Jameses 
Church  at  the  North  end. 

THE  Natives  are  all  Proteftants,  they  ob- 
ferve  the  Feftivals  o{  Chriflmas,  Good-Friday, 
and  Eafter.  I  had  like  to  have  forgot  a  valu- 
able Curiofity  in  this  Ifle,  which  they  call 
Baul  Mulujy  i.e.  Molingm  his  Stone  Globe: 
this  Saint  was  Chaplain  to  Mack-Donald  of  the 
Ifles;  his  Name  is  celebrated  here  on  the  ac- 
count of  this  Globe,  fo  much  efleem'd  by  the 
Inhabitants.  This  Stone  for  its  intrinfick  value 
has  been  carefully  tranfmitted  to  Pofterity  for 
feveral  Ages.  It  is  a  green  Stone  much  like  a 
Globe  in  Figure,  about  the  bignefs  of  a  GoolisL- 

Egg. 

P  THE 


2  26     ^  Description  o/t/;e 

THE  Vertue  of  it  is  to  ^remove  Stitches 
from  the  fides  of  fick  Perfons,  by  laying  it  clofe 
to  the  Place  affe£]:ed ;  and  if  the  Patient  does  not 
out-live  the  Diftemper,  they  fay  the  Stone  re- 
moves out  of  the  Bed  of  its  own  accord,  and  e 
contra.  The  Natives  ufe  this  Stone  for  fwear- 
ing  decifive  Oathsupon.it. 

THEY  afcribe  another  extraordinary  Ver- 
tue to  it,  and  'tis  this :  The  credulous  Vulgar 
firmly  believe  that  if  this  Stone  is  caft  among 
the  Front  of  an  Enemy,  they  will  all  run  away  ; 
and  that  as  often  as  the  Enemy  rallies,  if  this 
Stone  is  caft  among  them,  they  ftill  lofe  Cou- 
rage, and  retire.  They  fay  that  Mack-Donald 
of  the  Ifles  carried  this  Stone  about  him,  and 
that  Viclory  was  always  on  his  fide  when  he 
threw  it  among  the  Enemy.  The  Cuftody  of 
this  Globe  is  the  peculiar  Privilege  of  a  little 
Family  calkd  Clan-ChattoftSy  alias  Mack-Jntofh ', 
they  were  antient  Followers  of  M4^;^-Do/?4/i  of 
the  Ifles.  This  Stone  is  now  in  the  Cuftody  of 
Margaret  Miller^  alias  Mack-Intojh :  fhe  lives  in 
Bae/imiamch,  and  preferves  the  Globe  with  a- 
bundance  of  care  ;  it  is  wrapped  up  in  fair  Linen 
Cloth,  and  about  that  there  is  a  piece  of  Wool- 
len Cloth,  and  ilie  keeps  it  ftill  lock'd  up  in  her 
Cheft,  when  it  is  not  given  out  to  exert  its  qua» 
iuies. 


ISLESAT, 


Wejlern  I/lands  of  Scothnd,     227 

I  S  L  E  S  A  Y, 

IS  a  big  Rock,  about  fix  Leagues  to  the 
South -iVeJl  of  Jrran  ;  it  rifes  in  form  of  a 
Sugar-Loaf,  but  the  top  is  plain,  and  large 
enough  for  drawing  up  a  thoufand  Men  in 
Ranks :  there  is  a  Frefh- Water  Lake  in  the 
middle  of  the  Plain,  the  whole  Ifle  is  covered 
with  long  Grafs,  and  is  inacceflible,  except  oa 
the  South-Wefi  ftdcy  by  a  ftair  cut  out  in  the 
Rock ;  in  the  middle  of  it  there  is  a  fmall 
Tower  of  three  Stories  high  with  the  top. 
There  is  a  FreQi- Water  Spring  ifTuing  out  of 
the  fide  of  this  great  Rock ;  below  the  Entry 
there  is  a  place  where  the  Fifhers  take  up  their 
Refidence  during  their  flay  about  this  Rock  in 
queft  of  Cod  and  Ling ;  and  there  is  a  good 
Anchorage  for  their  VelTels,  very  near  their 
Tents. 

THIS  Rock  in  the  Summer-time  abounds 
with  variety  of  Sea-Fowl,  that  build  and  hatch 
in  it.  The  SoUn  Geefe  and  Cultermb  are  moft 
numerous  here;  the  latter  are  by  the  Fifhers 
called  Jihamchy  which  in  the  antienc  Irtfb  Lan- 
guage fignifies  Scots- Men. 

THE  Ifle  hath  a  Chappel  on  the  top  called 
Fiunnaj^  and  an  antient  Pavement,  or  Caufe* 
way. 

P  2  ISLES JT 


228     ^Description  of  th 

ISLES  AT  is  the  Earl  of  C#/'s  Property, 
the  Tenant  who  farms  it  pays  him  one  hun- 
dred Marks  Scots  yearly  ;  the  ProduQ:  of  the 
Ifle  is  Hogs,  Fowl,  Down,  and  Fifh.  The  Ifle 
Jvo»y  above  a  Mile  in  Circumference,  lies  to  the 
South  of  KJntyre  Male ;  it  hath  a  Harbour  for 
Barks  on  the  North, 


Jl^e  Ijle  G  IG  A1. 

TH E  Ifle  Gigay  lies  about  a  League  from 
Lergie  on  the  Weft-ftde  of  Kjntyre  ;  it  is 
four  Miles  in  length,  and  one  in  breadth,  was 
formerly  in  the  Diocefs,  and  is  ftill  part  of  the 
Sheriffdom  of  Argjle.  This  Ifle  is  for  the  moft 
part  arable,  but  rocky  in  other  parts:  the 
Mold  is  brown  and  clayey,  inclining  to  red; 
it  is  good  for  Pafturage  and  Cultivation.  The 
Corn  growing  here  is  Oats  and  Barley.  The 
Cattel  bred  here  are  Cows,  Horfes,  and  Sheep. 
There  is  a  Church  in  this  Ifland  called  Kjl-chat- 
tan,  it  has  an  Altar  in  the  Eafl-end,  and  upon 
it  a  Font  of  Stone  which  is  very  large,  and 
hath  a  fmall  hole  in  the  middle  which  goes 
quite  through  it.  There  are  feveral  Tomb- 
liones  in  and  about  this  Church  ;  the  Family 
of  the  J^ack-Neils,  the  principal  PoffefTors 
of  this  Ifle,  are  buried  under  the  Tomb-ftones 
on  the  EaH-fide  the  Church,  where  there  is  a 
Plat  of  ground  fet  apart  for  them.    Mofl:  of 

all 


Wejlern  Iftands  of  Scotland.        229 

all  the  Tombs  have  a  two-handed  Sword  engra- 
ven on  them,  and  there  is  one  that  has  the  Re- 
prefentation  of  a  Man  upon  it. 

NEAR  the  Weft-fide  the  Church  there  is 
a  Stone  of  about  16  Foot  high,  and  4  broad, 
erected  upon  the  Eminence.  About  60  yards 
diftance  from  the  Chappel  there  is  a  fquare 
Stone  ere£led  about  ten  Foot  high  ;  at  this  the 
antient  Inhabitants  bowed,  becaufe  it  was 
there  where  they  had  the  firft  View  of  the 
Church. 

THERE  is  aCrors4foot  high  at  a  little 
diftance,  and  a  Cavern  of  Stone  on  each  fide 
of  it. 

THIS  Ifle  affords  no  Wood  of  any  kind, 
but  a  few  Bullies  of  Juniper  on  the  little  Hills. 
The  Stones,  upon  which  the  ^cwx^Corkir  grows, 
which  dyes  a  Crimfon  Colour,  are  found  here ;  as 
alfo  thofe  that  produce  the  Crottil,  which  dyes  a 
Philamot  Colour.  Some  of  the  Natives  told 
me  that  they  us'd  to  chew  Nettles,  and  hold 
them  to  their  Noftrils  to  ftanch  bleeding  at  the 
Nofe ;  and  that  Nettles  being  apply'd  to  the 
Place,  would  alfo  flop  bleeding  at  a  Vein,  or 
other  wife. 

T  H  ER  E  is  a  Well  in  the  North  End  of  this 
Ifle  called  T£?«^/>-worf,  i.e.  a  great  Well,    be- 
caufe of  its  Effefts,  for  which   it   is  famous 
P  5      '  among 


230     ^  Description  o/tfce 

among  the  Iflanders ;  who  together  with  the 
Inhabitants  ufe  it  as  a  Catholicon  for  Difeafes. 
It's  cover'd  with  Stone  and  Clay,  becaufe  the 
Natives  fancy  that  the  Stream  that  flows  from 
it  might  overflow  the  Ifle ;  and  it  is  always 
opened  by  a  Diroch,  /.  e,  an  Inmate,  elfe  they 
think  it  would  not  exert  its  Virtues.  They 
afcribeone  very  extraordinary  Efleft  to  it,  and 
'tis  this ;  That  when  any  Foreign  Boats  are 
Wind-bound  here  (which  often  happens)  the 
Mafter  of  the  Boat  ordinarily  gives  the  Native 
that  lets  the  Water  run,  a  Piece  of  Money  ;  and 
they  fay,  th  ft  immediately  afterwards  the  Wind 
changes  in  favour  of  thofe  that  that  are  thus  de- 
tain'd  by  contrary  Winds.  Every  Stranger  that 
goes  to  drink  of  the  Water  of  this  Well,  is  ac- 
cuftomed  to  leave  on  its  Stone-Cover  a  Piece  of 
Money,  a  Needle,  Pin,  or  one  of  the  prettieft 
variegated  Stones  they  can  find. 

THE  Inhabitants  are  all  Proteftants,  and 
fpeak  the  Iri/h  Tongue  generally,  there  being 
but  few  that  fpeak  Engltlh  :  they  are  grave  and 
referv'd  in  their  Converfation  ;  they  are  accuf- 
tomed  not  to  bury  on  Friday ;  they  are  fair  or 
brown  in  Compledion,  and  ufe  the  fame  Ha- 
bit, Diet,  &c.  that  is  made  ufe  of  in  the  adja- 
cent Continent  and  Ifies.  There  is  only  one 
Inn  in  this  Ifle. 

THE  Ifle  Caray  lies  a  Quarter  of  a  Mile 
South  from  Gfiaj  ;  it  is  about  a  Mile  in  compafs, 

affords 


Weftern  IJlands  of  Scotknd.      2 1  \ 

affords  good  Pafturage,  and  abounds  with  Co- 
neys.  There  is  a  Harbour  for  Barks  on  the 
North-eaft  End  of  it.  Thislfland  is  the  Pro- 
perty of  Mack'Jlefter  of  Lergy,  a  Family  of 
the  Mackdoftalds, 


J  U  (IIJ  H. 


THE  Ifle  oijurah  is,  by  a  narrow  Chan- 
nel of  about  half  a  Mile  broad,  fepara- 
ted  from  lU,    The  Natives  fay  that  Jurah  is 
fo  calFd  from  Dih  and  Rah,  two  Brethren,  who 
are  believ'd  to  have  been  Danes  ;  the  Names 
Dib  and   Rah  fignifying  as  much  as    without 
Grace  or  Profperity.     Tradition  fays,  that  thefe 
two  Brethren  fought  and  kill'd  one  another  in 
the  Village  Kjiock^Cronm^  where   there  are  two 
Stones  ereQed  of  7  Foot  high  each,  and  under 
them,  they  fay,  there  are  Urns  with  the  A  flies 
of  the  two  Brothers ;  the  Diftance  between  them 
is  about  fixty  Yards.     The  Ifle  is  mountainous 
along  the  middle,    where  there  are  four  Hills 
of  a    confiderable    height ;    the    two  highcft 
are   well    known   to  Sea-faring  Men,    by  the 
Name  of  the  Pa^s  of  "jurah  :  they  are  very  con- 
fpicuous  from  ail  Quarters  of  Sea  and  Land  in 
thofe  Parts. 

P4  THIS 


23^     ^Description  of  the 

THIS  Ifle  is  twenty  four  Miles  long,  and 
in  fome  Places  fix  or  feven  Miles  in  Breadth ; 
it  is  the  Duke  of  Jrgj/eh  Property,  and  Part  of 
the  Sheriffdom  oi  Arg^le, 

THE  Mold  is  brown  and  greyiCh  on  the 
Coaft,  and  black  in  the  Hills,  which  are  co- 
ver'd  with  Heath,  and  fome  Grafs,  that  proves 
good  Pafturage  for  their  Cattel,  which  are 
Horfes,  Cows,  Sheep,  and  Goats.  There's 
Variety  of  Land  and  Water-Fowl  here.  The 
Hills  ordinarily  have  about  three  hundred  Deer 
grazing  on  them,  which  are  not  to  be  hunted 
by  any;  without  the  Steward's  Licence,  This 
Ifle  is  perhaps  the  wholefomeft  Plat  of  Ground 
either  in  the  Ifles  or  Continent  of  Scotland^  as 
appears  by  the  long  Life. of  the  Natives,  and 
their  State  of  Health  ;  to  which  the  Height 
of  the  Hills  is  believ'd  to  contribute  in  a  large 
meafure,  by  the  frefh  Breezes  of  Wind  that 
come  from  'em  to  purify  the  Air:  whereas, 
Uay  and  Gigay  on  each  fide  this  Ifle,  are  much 
lower,  and  are  not  fo  wholefom  by  far,  being 
liable  to  feveral  Difeafes  that  are  not  here. 
The  Inhabitants  obferve,  that  the  Air  of  this 
Place  is  perfedly  pure,  from  the  middle  of 
March  till  the  End  or  Middle  of  September. 
There  is  no  Epidemical  Difeafe  that  prevails 
here:  Fevers  are  but  feldom  obferv'd  by  the 
Natives,  and  any  kind  of  Flux  is  rare;  the 
Gout  and  Agues  are  not  fo  much  as  known  by 

thcmj 


Wejlmi  IJtands  of  Scotland.     23; 

them,  neither  are  they  liable  to  Sciatica.  Con- 
vulfions.  Vapours,  Palfics,  Surfeits,  Lethar- 
gies, Megrims,  Confumptions,  Rickets,  Pains  of 
the  Stomach,  or  Coughs,  are  not  frequent  here, 
and  none  of  them  are  at  any  time  obferv'd  to 
become  mad.  I  was  told  by  feveral  of  the 
Natives,  that  there  was  not  one  Woman  died 
of  Child  bearing  there  thefe  J4  Years  pad:. 
Blood-letting  and  Purging  are  not  us'd  here. 

I F  any  contrail  a  Cough,  they  ufe  Broehm 
only  to  remove  it.  If  after  a  Fever  one  chance 
to  be  taken  ill  of  a  Stitch,  they  take  a  Quantity 
of  Lady-wrack^  and  half  as  much  of  Red-Fog^ 
and  boil  them  in  Water ;  the  Patients  fit  upon 
the  VefTel,  and  receive  the  Fume,  which  by  ex- 
perience they  find  effectual  againft  this  Diftem- 
per.  Fevers  and  the  DUrrhea^s  are  found  here 
only  when  the  Air  is  foggy  and  warm,  in  Win- 
ter or  Summer. 

r 

THE  Inhabitants  for  their  Diet  make  ufe 
of  Beef  and  Mutton  in  the  Winter  and  Spring  ; 
as  alfo  of  Fi(h,  Butter,  Cheefe,  and  Milk. 
The  Vulgar  take  Brochan  frequently  for  their 
Diet  during  the  Winter  and  Spring ;  and  Bro- 
chan and  Bread  us'd  for  the  fpace  of  two  Days, 
reftores  lofl:  Appetite. 

e 

THE  Women  of  all  Ranks  ^eat  a  lefTer 
Quantity  of  Food  than  the  Men  :  this  and  their 

not 


234     ^  Descrittion  of  the 

not  wearing  any  thing  ftrait  about  them,  is 
believ'd  to  contribute  much  to  the  Health  both 
of  the  Mothers  and  Children. 

T  H  E  R  E  are  feveral  Fountains  of  excellent 
Water  in  this  Ifle :  the  moft  celebrated  of  them 
is  that  of  the  Mountain  Beinbrek  in  the  Tarbaty 
called  Toubir  n't  Lechhwy  that  is,  the  Well  in 
a  ftony  Defcent ;  it  runs  Eafterly,  and  they 
commonly  reckon  it  to  be  lighter  by  one  half 
than  any  other  Water  in  this  Ifle:  for  tho  one 
drink  a  great  Quantity  of  it  at  a  time,  the 
Belly  is  not  fwell'd,  or  any  ways  burden'd  by 
it.  Natives  and  Strangers  find  it  efficacious 
againft  Naufeoufnefs  of  the  Stomach,  and  the 
Stone.  The  River  NijjA  receives  all  the  Water 
that  iflues  from  this  Well,  and  this  is  the  rea- 
fon  they  give  why  Salmons  here  are  in  Good- 
nefs  and  Tafte  far  above  thofe  of  any  other 
River  whatever.  The  River  o^  Crokbreck  af- 
fords Salmon  alfo,  but  they  are  not  efteem'd  fo 
good  as  thofe  of  the  River  Niffa. 

SEVERAL  of  the  Natives  have  liv'd  to  a 
great  Age  :  I  was  told  that  one  of  them,  called 
Gillouir  Mack-Cram,  livM  to  have  kept  one  hnu- 
dred  and  eighty  Chriftmaffes  in  his  own  Houfe ; 
he  died  about  fifty  Years  ago,  and  there  are 
feveral  of  his  Acquaintance  living  to  this  day, 
from  whom  I  had  this  Account. 

BAILIFF 


Wejleni  Ijlands  bf  Scotland.     2  3  5 

BAILIFF  Camfbell  lived  to  the  Age  of  one 
hundred  and  fix  Years,  he  died  three  Years  ago, 
he  pafTed  the  thirty  three  iaft  Years  before  his 
Death  in  this  Ifle.  Donald  Mac  N'MlU^  who 
lives  in  the  Village  of  KJUearn  at  prefent,  is  arri- 
ved at  the  Age  of  ninety  Years. 

A  W  O  M  A  N  of  the  Ifle  of  Scorba^  near  the 
North  End  of  this  Ifle,  lived  fevenfcore  Years, 
and  enjoy'd  the  free  Ufe  of  her  Senfes  and  Un- 
derfl:anding  all  her  days :  it  is  now  two  years 
fince  (he  died. 

THERE  is  a  large  Cave,  called  Kj/Jg^s-Cave^ 
on  the  Weft  Side  of  the  Tarhaf,  near  the  Sea ; 
there  is  a  Well  at  the  Entry,  which  renders  it 
the  more  convenient  for  fuch  as  niay  have  oc- 
cafion  to  iodg  in  it. 

ABOUT  two  Miles  further  from  the  Tar- 
hap,  there  is  a  Cave  at  Corpich  which  hath  an 
Altar  in  it ;  there  are  many  fmall  Piece6  of  pe- 
trify'd  Subftance  hanging  from  the  Roof  of  this 
Cave. 

THERE  is  a  Place  where  VelTels  ufe  to 
anchor  on  the  Weft  fide  of  thislfland,  called 
WhitfarUn,  about  100  Yards  North  from  the 
Forter*s  Houle. 

ABOUT 


23<5     y^  Description  o/f/;^ 

ABOUT  four  Leagues  South  frorp  the 
North  End  of  this  ifle,  lies  the  Bay  Da'iraul, 
which  is  about  half  a  Mile  in  length  ;  there  is 
a  Rock  on  the  North  fide  of  the  Entry,  which 
they  fay  is  five  Fathom  deep,  and  but  three 
Fathom  within. 

ABOUT  a  League  further  to  the  South  on 
the  fameCoaft,  lies  the  fmalj  Ifles  of  Jurah, 
within  which,  there  is  a  good  Anchoring- Place  ; 
the  South  Entry  is  the  beft ;  Ifland  Nm  Gomr 
muft  be  kept  on  the  left  hand ;  it  is  eafily 
diftinguifh'd  by  its  Bignefs  from  the  reft  of  the 
Ifles.  Coftnej  Ifie  lies  to  the  North  of  this 
Ifland.  There  are  black  and  white  fpotted 
Serpents  in  this  Ifle ;  their  Head  being  apply'd 
to  the  Wound,  is  by  the  Natives  us'd  as  the 
beft  Remedy  for  their  Poifon.  Within  a  Mile 
of  the  Tarbat  there  is  a  Stone  ere£led  about 
eight  Foot  high.  Loch-Tarhat  on  the  Weft 
fide  runs  Eafterly  for  about  five  Miles,  but  is 
not  a  Harbour  for  Veffels,  or  lefler  Boats,  for 
it  is  altogether  rocky. 

THE  Shore  on  the  Weft  fide  affords  Co. 
ral  and  Coraline.  There  is  a  fort  of  Dalfe 
growing  on  this  Coaft,  of  a  white  Colour. 

BE  T  W  E  E  N  the  No^h  End  of  Jf^rah,  and 
the  Ifle  Scarpa,  lies  the  famous  and  dangerous 
pulph,  calPd  Corj  Frekan,   about  a  Mile    io 

breadth ; 


Wejlern  IJlands  of  Scotland.     237 

breadth ;  it  yields  an  impetuous  Current,  not 
to  be  matched  any  where  about  the  Ifle  of 
Britaif/,  The  Sea  begins  to  boil  and  ferment 
with  the  Tide  of  Flood,  and  refembles  the 
boiling  of  a  Pot ;  and  then  increafes  gradually, 
until  it  appear  in  many  Whirlpools,  which 
form  themfelves  in  fort  of  Pyramids,  and  im- 
mediately after  fpout  up  as  high  as  the  Maft 
of  a  little  Veflfel,  and  at  the  fame  time  make 
a  loud  Report.  Thefe  white  Waves  run  two 
Leagues  with  the  Wind  before  they  break :  the 
Sea  continues  to  repeat  thefe  various  Motions 
from  the  beginning  of  the  Tide  of  Flood,  until 
it  is  more  than  half  Flood,  and  then  it  decrea- 
fes  gradually  until  it  hath  ebb'd  about  half 
an  hour,  and  continues  to  boil  till  it  is  within 
an  hour  of  low  Water.  This  boiling  of  the 
Sea  is  not  above  a  Pifl:ol-(hot  diftant  from  the 
Coaft  of  Scarba  JJle,  where  the  white  Waves 
meet  and  fpout  up :  they  call  it  the  Kjillach^ 
i.  e.  an  old  Hag  ;  and  they  fay  that  when  (he 
puts  on  her  Kjrchief,  i.  e.  the  whiteft  Waves, 
it  is  then  reckoned  fatal  to  approach  her.  Not- 
withftanding  this  great  Ferment  of  the  Sea, 
which  brings  up  the  lead  "Shell  from  the 
Ground,  the  fmalleft  Fifher-Boat  may  venture 
to  crofs  this  Gulph  at  the  laft  hour  of  the  Tide 
of  Flood,^and  at  the  laft  hour  of  the  Tide  of 
Ebb. 

THIS  Gulph  hath  its  Name  from  Breka^^ 
faid  to  be  Son  to  the  King  of  Denmark,  who 

was 


2^8     ^  Description  o/f/;f 

was  drowned  here,  caft  afhore  in  the  North  of 
Jurah^  and  buried  in  a  Cave,  as  appears  from  the 
Hone  Tomb  and  Altar  there. 

THE  Natives  told  me,  that  about  three 
Years  ago  an  Englifh  VefTel  happen'd  inadver- 
tently to  pafs  through  this  Gulph  at  the  time 
when  the  Sea  began  to  boil :  the  Whitenefs  of 
the  Waves,  and  their  fpouting  up,  was  Hke 
the  breaking  of  the  Sea  upon  a  Rock ;  they 
found  themfelves  attraded  irrefiftibly  to  the 
w^hite  Rock,  as  they  then  fuppofed  it  to  be: 
this  quickly  obhg'd  them  to  confult  their  Safe- 
ty, and  fo  they  betook  themfelves  to  the  fmall 
Boat  with  all  fpeed,  and  thought  it  no  fmall 
Happinefs  to  land  fafe  in  Jurah,  committing  the 
VcI{qI  under  all  her  Sails  to  the  uncertain  Con- 
du£l  of  Tide  and  Wind.  She  was  driven  to  the 
oppofite  Continent  of  h^mpdale,  where  fhe  no 
fooner  arriv'd,  than  the  Tide  and  Wind  be- 
came  contrary  to  one  another,  and  fo  the  VeiTel 
was  caft  into  a  Creek,  where  fhe  was  fafe  ; 
and  then  the  Mafter  and  Crew  were  by  the  Na- 
tives of  this  Ifle  conduced  to  her,  where  they 
found  her  as  fafa  as  they  left  her,  tho  all  her 
Sails  were  ftill  hoifted. 

THE  Natives  gave  me  an  account,  that 
fome  Years  ago  a  Veffel  had  brought  fome  Rats 
hither,  which  increafed  fo  much,  that  they  be- 
came very  uneafy  to  the  People,  but  on  a  fud- 

den 


We/tern  JJlands  0/ Scotland.      239 

den  they  all  vanifh'd ;  and  now  there  is  not  one 
of  them  in  the  Ifle. 

THERE  is  a  Church  here  call'd  K^illearn, 
the  Inhabitants  are  all  Proteftants,  and  obferve 
the  Feftivals  of  Chrijimasy  Rafter,  and  Michael- 
mas  ;  they  do  not  open  a  Grave  on  Friday,  and 
bury  none  on  that  day,  except  the  Grave  has 
been  openM  before. 

THE  Natives  here  are  very  well  propor- 
tion'd,  being  generally  black  of  Complexion, 
and  free  from  bodily  ImperfeQions.  1  hey  fpeak 
the  lri[h  Language,  and  wear  the  Plad,  Bon- 
net, &c.  as  other  Iflanders. 

T  H  E  Ifle  of  lU  lies  to  the  Weft  of  Jurah, 
from  which  it  is  feparated  by  a  narrow  Chan- 
nel: it  is  twenty  four  Miles  in  length  from 
South  to  North,  and  eighteen  from  Eaft  to 
Weft ;  there  are  fome  little  Mountains  about 
the  middle  on  the  Eaft-fide.  The  Coaft  is  for 
the  moft  part  heathy  and  uneven,  and  by  con- 
fequence  not  proper  for  Tillage  ;  the  North-end 
is  alfo  full  of  Heaths  and  Hills.  The  South- 
Weft  and  Weft  is  pretty  well  cultivated,  and 
there  is  fix  Miles  between  Kjlrorv  on  the  Weft, 
and  Port  Efcock  in  the  Eaft,  which  is  arable, 
and  well  inhabited.  There's  about  one  thou- 
fand  little  Hills  on  this  Road,  and  all  abound 
with  Lime-flone  ;  among  which  there  is  lately 
difcovered  a  Lead  Mine  in  three  different  Pla- 


140      ^^Description  of  the 

ces,  but  it  has  not  turn'd  to  any  account  as 
yet.  The  Corn  growiog  here  is  Barley  and 
Oats. 

THERE  is  only  one  Harbour  in  this  Ifle, 
call'd  Loeh-Dale;  it  lies  near  the  North  end, 
and  is  of  a  great  length  and  breadth  ;  but  the 
depth  being  in  the  middle,  few  Veflels  come 
within  half  a  League  of  the  Land-fide. 

THERE  arefeveral  Rivers  in  this  Ifle  af- 
fording Salmon,  The  Frefh-vvater  Lakes  are 
well  ftock'd  with  Trouts,  Eels,  and  fome  with 
Salmons ;  as  Loch-Guirm^  which  is  four  Miles 
in  Circumference,  and  hath  feveral  Forts  built 
on  an  Ifland  that  lies  in  it. 

LOCH-FJNLJGAN,  about  three  Miles 
in  Circumference,  affords  Salmon,  Trouts,  and 
Eels:  this  Lake  lies  in  the  Center  of  the  Ifle. 
The  Ifle  FinUgan,  from  which  this  Lake  hath 
its  Namx,  is  in  it.  It's  famous  for  being  once 
the  Court  in  which  the  great  Mack-DonaU,  King 
of  the  Ifles,  had  his  Refidenc« ;  his  Houfes, 
Chappel,  &c.  are  now  ruinous.  His  Guards 
de  Corps^  call'd  Luchttaeh,  kept  Guard  on  the 
Lake-fide  neareft  to  the  Ifle  ;  the  Walls  of  their 
Houfes  are  ftill  to  be  feen  there. 

THE  High  Court  of  Judicature,  confiding 
of  Fourteen,  fat  always  here ;  and  there  was 
an  Appeal  to  them  from  all  the  Courts  in  the 

Ifles: 


Wefiern  IJlands  of  Scotland.     241 

Ifles  :  the  eleventh  Share  of  the  Sum  in  debate 
was  due  to  th^  principal  Judg.  There  was  a 
big  Stone  of  feven  Foot  fquare,  in  which  there 
was  a  deep  Impreirion  made  to  receive  the  Feet 
of  Mack> Donald-^  for  he  was  crown'd  King  of 
the  Ifles  ftanding  in  this  Stone,  and  fwore  that 
he  would  continue  nis  VafTals  in  the  pofTeirion 
of  their  Lands,  and  do  exad  Juiiice  to  all  his 
Subjects :  and  then  his  Father's  Sword  was  put 
into  his  hand.  The  Bifhop  of  Jrgyle  and  ft- 
ven  Priefts  anointed  him  King,  in  prefence  of  all 
the  Heads  of  the  Tribes  in  the  Ifles  and  Con- 
tinent, and  were  his  ValTals;  at  which  time 
the  Orator  rehears'd  a  Catalogue  of  his  An- 
ceftors,  &c. 

THERE  are  feveral  Forts  built  in  the  Ifles. 
that  are  in  Frefh-water  Lakes,  as  in  lUn  Loch- 
guirffy  and  lUn  Viceain :  there  is  a  Fort  call'd 
Dunnivag  in  the  South-Weft:  fide  of  the  Ifle, 
and  there  are  feveral  Caves  in  different  places 
of  it.  The  largeft  that  I  faw  was  in  the  North 
end,  and  is  call'd  VAh  Vearnag  ;  it  will  contain 
200  Men  to  fliand  or  fit  in  it.  There  is  a  Kiln 
for  drying  Corn  made  on  the  Eafl:-fide  of  it ; 
and  on  the  other  fide  there's  a  Wall  built  clofe 
to  the  fide  of  the  Cave,  which  was  us'd  for  a 
Bed-Chamber  :  it  had  a  Fire  on  the  Floor,  and 
fome  Chairs  about  it,  and  the  Bed  flood  clofe 
to  the  Wall.  There  is  a  Scone  without  the 
Cave- Door,  about  which  the  common  People 
make  a  Tour  Sunways. 


2^1     ^  Description  o/f^c 

A  MILE  on  the  South- Weft  fide  of  the  Cave 
is  the  celebrated  Well,  calPd  Tonbir  in  Kjtahar^ 
which  in  the  antient  Language  is  as  much  as  to 
fay,  the  Well  that  fallied  from  one  place  to 
another :  For  it  is  a  receiv'd  Tradition  among 
the  vulgar  Inhabitants  of  this  Ille,  and  the  op- 
pofite  Ifle  of  Collonfay^  that  this  Well  vi^as  firft: 
in  Collonfay,  until  an  imprudent  Woman  hap- 
pen'd  to  wafli  her  Hands  in  it,  and  that  imme- 
diately after,  the  Well  being  thus  abus'd,  came 
in  an  inftant  to  //^,  where  it  is  like  to  continue, 
and  is  ever  fince  efteem'd  a  Catholkon  for 
Difeafes  by  the  Natives  and  adjacent  Iflanders ; 
and  the  great  refort  to  it  is  commonly  every 
Quarter  day. 

IT  is  common  with  fick  People  to  make  a 
Vow  to  come  to  the  Well,  and  after  drinking, 
they  make  a  Tour  Sunways  round  it,  and  then 
leave  an  Offering  of  fome  fmall  Token,  fuch  as 
a  Pin,  Needle,  Farthing,  or  the  like,  on  the 
Stone  Cover  which  is  above  the  Well.  But  if 
the  Patient  is  not  like  lo  recover,  they  fend  a 
Proxy  to  the  Well,  who  a£ls  as  above-men- 
tion'd,  and  carries  home  fome  of  the  Water  to 
be  drank  by  the  lick  Perfon. 

T  H  E  R  E  is  a  little  Chappel  befide  this  Well, 
to  which  fuch  as  had  found  the  Benefit  of  the 
Water,  came  back  and  return'd  thanks  to  God 
fcr  their  Recovery. 

THERE 


Weflern  I/lands  of  Scotland.     24; 

THERE  pre  feveral  Rivers  on  each  fide 
this  Ifle,  that  auord  Salmon  :  I  was  told  by  the 
Natives,  that  the  Briofi  of  lU,  a  famous  Judg, 
is,  according  to  his  own  Defire,  buried  ftanding 
on  the  Brink  of  the  River  Laggan  ;  hiving  in  his 
right  Hand  a  Spear,  fuch  as  they  ufe  to  dart  at 
the  Salmon. 

THERE  arefomelflesontheCoaftofthis 
IJland,  2iS  IJlandTexa  on  the  South. Weft  about 
a  Mile  in  Circumference ;  and  IJlAnd  Ouirfa  a 
Mile  likewife  in  Circumference,  with  the  fmall 
IJle  call'd  Nave. 


The  Names  of  the  CHURCHES    ht 
this  IJIe  are  ^  follow  : 

KlL-ChoUim-K^ill,  ^t.  Columbus  his  Church 
near  Port  Efcock,  Kjl-Chovan  in  the  Rins 
on  the  Weft-fide  the  Ifle;  Kjl-Chiaran  in  Rins^ 
on  the  Weft-fide  Nerbols  in  the  Rins^  St.  Colam- 
bus  his  Church  in  Laggm^  a  Chappel  in  I/land 
Navc,  and  KjUhan  Alen  North- Weft  of  Kjdrorv. 
There  is  a  Crofs  ftanding  near  St.  Colambm\  or 
Tort  Efcock  fide,  which  is  ten  Foot  high.  There 
are  two  Stones  fet  up  at  the  Eaft-fide  of  Loch- 
Finlagan^  and  they  are  fix  Foot  high  :  all  the 
Inhabitants  are  Proteftants ;  fome  among  them 
obferve  the  Feftivals  of  Chrifimas  and  GoooL" 
0^2  Friday, 


244     J  Description  of  the 

Friday.     They  are  well  proportion'd ,  and  indif- 
ferently healthful :   the  Air  here  is  not  near  fo 
good  as  that  of  Jura^  from  which  it  is  but  a 
fhort  Mile  diftant ;  but  lU  is  lower  and  more 
marfliy,  which  makes  it  liable  to  feveral  Dif- 
eafes  that  do  not  trouble  thofe  oLJura.     They 
generally  fpeak  the  Irifb  Tongue,    all  thofe  of 
the  beft  Rank  fpeak  Englifh ;  they  ufe  the  fame 
Habit  and  Diet  with  thofe  of  Jura.     This  Ifle 
is  annex'd  to  the  Crown  of  Scotland ;  Sir  Hugh 
Camfbel  of  Caddel  is  the  King's  Steward  there, 
and  has  one  half  of  the  Ifland.     This  Ifle  is 
reckoned  the  furthefl:  Weft  of  all  the  Ifles  m 
Britain  :  there  is  a  Village  on  the  Weft  Coaft  of 
it  calPd  Only  i.  e.  the  back  part ;   and  the  Na- 
tives fay  it   was  fo  calPd,  becaufe  the  Antients 
thought  it  the  back  of  the  World,  as  being  the 
rcmoteft  part  on  that  fide  of  it.     The  Natives 
of  lla,  Colionjaj^  and  'Jura  fay,  that  there  is  an 
Ifland  lying  to  the  South- Weft  of  thefe  Ifles,  a- 
bout  the  diftance  of  a  day's  failing,  for  which 
they  have  only  a  bare  Tradition.     Mr.  Mack- 
Sweff,  prefent  Minifter  in  the  Ifle  Jura,  gave  me 
the  following  Account  of  it,  which  he  had  from 
the  Mafter  of  an  Engitfh  Vefifel  that  happen'd 
to  anchor  at  that  little  Ifle,  and  came  afterwards 
to  Jura  •   which  is  thus : 


.-^ou 


A  S  I  was  failing  fome  thirty  Leagues  to  the 
..wUth- Weft  of  JUy  I  was  becalm'd  near  a  little 
Ifle,  where  I  dropt  Anchor,  and  went  afhore. 
J  found  ic  cover'd  all  over  with  long  Grafs ; 

there 


Wcfiern  JJlands  of  Scothnd,        245 

there  were  abundance  of  Seals  lyinj^  on  the 
Rocks,  and  on  the  Shore  ;  there  is  like  wife  a 
multitude  of  Sea-fowls  in  it:  there  is  a  River 
in  the  middle,  and  on  each  fide  of  it  I  found 
great  Heaps  of  Fifh-bones  of  many  forts  ;  there 
are  many  Planks  and  Boards  caft  up  upon  the 
Coaft  of  the  Ifle,  and  it  being  all  plain,  and  al- 
moft  level  with  the  Sea,  I  caus'd  my  Men  (being 
then  idle)  to  ereft  a  heap  of  the  Wood  about 
two  Stories  high ;  and  that  with  a  Defign  to 
make  the  Ifland  more  confpicuous  to  Sea-faring 
Men.  This  Ifle  is  four  Englifh  Miles  in  length, 
and  one  in  breadth  :  I  was  about  thirteen  Hours 
failing  between  this  Ifle  and  Jura.  Mr.  John 
Mack-Srven  above-mention'd,  having  gone  to  the 
Ifle  of  Colhnfay^  fome  few  Days  after,  was  told 
by  the  Inhabitants,  that  from  an  Eminence  near 
the  Monaflery,  in  a  fair  Day,  they  faw  as  it 
were  the  top  of  a  little  Mountain  in  the  South- 
Weft  Sea,  and  that  they  doubted  not  but  it  was 
Land,  tho  they  never  obferv'd  it  before.  Mr. 
MAck-Srven  was  confirm'd  in  this  Opinion  by  the 
Account  above-mention'd  :  but  when  the  Sum- 
mer was  over,  they  never  faw  this  little  Hill, 
as  they  call'd  it,  any  more.  The  reafon  of 
which  is  fupposM  to  be  this,  that  the  high 
Winds,  in  all  Probability,  had  caft  down  the 
Pile  of  Wood,  that  forty  Seamen  had  erefled 
the  preceding  Year  in  that  Ifland  ,  which  by  rea- 
fon of  the  Defcription  above  recited,  we  may 
aptly  enough  call  the  Green  Ifland. 

Q.?  The 


24^      ^DESCRIPTION   of  the 

The  Ifie  of  CoUonfay. 

\  BOUT  two  Leagues  to  the  North  of  lla^ 
£\^  lies  the  Ifle  Oronfay  ;  it  is  feparated  from 
tollonfay  only  at  the  Tide  of  Flood  :  this  Penin- 
fuU  is  four  Miles  in  Circumference,  being  for  the 
moft  part  «  plain,  arable,  dry,  fandy  Soil,  and  is 
fruitful  in  Corn  and  Grafs ;  it  is  likewife  adorn'd 
with  a  Ch'jrch,  Chappel,  and  Monaftery  ;  they 
were  built  by  the  famous  St.  Colambm^  to  whom 
the  Church  is  dedicated.  There  is  an  Altar  in 
this  Church,  and  there  has  been  a  modern  Cru- 
cifix on  ir,  in  which  feveral  precious  Stones 
were  fix'd  ;  the  moft  valuable  of  thefe  is  now  in 
the  Cuftody  of  Mack-Duffie,  in  black  Raimufed 
Village,  and  it  is  us'd  as  a  Catholicon  for  Dilea- 
fes ;  there  are  feveral  Burying-places  here,  and 
the  Tomb-ftones  for  the  moft  part  have  a  two- 
handed  S\A'ord  engraven  on  them.  On  the 
South  fide  of  the  Church  within,  lie  the  Tombs 
of  Mack' Duff e,  and  of  the  Cadets  of  his  Fami- 
ly 5  there  is  a  Ship  under  Sail,  and  a  two-han- 
ded Sword  engraven  on  the  principal  Tomb- 
ftone,  and  this  Infcription,  Hie  jacit  Malcolum- 
bu4  MaC'Duffe  de  CoUonfay :  his  Coat  of  Arms 
and  Colour-Staff  is  fix'd  in  a  Stone,  thro  which 
a  Hole  is  made  to  hold  it.  7  here  is  a  Crofs  at 
the  Eaft  and  Weft  fides  of  this  Church,  which 
are  now  broken  ;  their  height  was  about  twelve 
Foot  each :  there  is  a  large  Crofs  on  the  Weft-, 
fide  of  the  Church,  of  an  entire  Stone  very  hard  ; 

there 


IVeJlern  IJlands  of  Scotland.      247 

there  is  a  Pedeftal  of  three  Steps,  by  which  they 
afcend  to  it,  it  is  16  Foot  high,  and  a  Foot  and 
a  half  broad  ;  there  is  a  large  Crucifix  on  the 
Weft-fide  of  this  Crofs,  it  has  an  Infcription 
underneath,  but  not  legible,  being  almoft  wore 
off  by  the  Injury  of  Time ;  the  other  fide  has  a 
Tree  engraven  on  it. 

ABOUT  a  quarter  of  a  Mife  on  the  South- 
fide  of  the  Church  there  is  a  Carne,  in  which 
there  is  a  Stone  Crofs  fix'd,  cali'd  Mack-Duffie*s 
Crofs ;  for  when  any  of  the  Heads  of  this  Fa- 
mily were  to  be  interr'd,  their  Corps  was  laid  on 
this  Crofs  for  fome  moments,  in  their  way  to- 
ward the  Church. 

O  N  the  North-fide  of  the  Church  there  is 
a  fquare  Stone-wall,  about  two  Story  high  ;  the 
Area  of  it  is  about  fourfcore  Paces,  and  it  is 
join'd  to  the  Church  Wall :  within  this  Square 
there  is  a  lefTer  Square  of  one  Story  high,  and 
about  60  Paces  wide,  three  fides  of  it  are  built 
of  fmall  Pillars,  confifting  of  two  thin  Stones 
each,  and  each  Pillar  vaulted  above  with  two 
thin  Stones  tapering  upwards.  There  are  In- 
fcriptions  on  two  of  the  Pillars,  but  hw  of  the 
Letters  are  perfeft.  There  are  feveral  Koufes 
without  the  Square,  which  the  Monks  liv'd  in. 
There  is  a  Garden  at  twenty  Yards  diftance  on 
the  North-fide  the  Houfes, 

CL4  THE 


248     ^  Description  o/t^e 

THE   Natives  of  CoUonpiy  are  accuftom'd, 
after  their   Arrival    in  Oronfay  Ifle,  to  make  a 
Tour  Sunways  about  the  Church,  before  they 
enter  upon  any  kind  of  Bufinefs.    My  Landlord 
having  one  of  his  Family  fick  of  a  Fever,  askM 
my  Book,as  a  fingular  Favour,for  a  few  moments. 
I  was  not  a  little  furpriz'd  at  the  honeft  Man's 
Requeft,  he  being  illiterate  ;  and  when  he  told 
me  the  reafon  of  it,  I  was  no  lefs  amaz'd,  for 
it  was  to  fan  the  Patient's  Face  with  the  Leaves 
of  the  Book ;   and  this  he  did  at  Night.    He 
fought  the  Book  next  Morning,  and  again  in  the 
Evenmg,  and  then  thank'd  me  for  fo  great  a  Fa- 
vour :  And  told  me,  the  fick  Perfon  was  much 
better  by  it,  and  thus  I  underftood  that  they  had 
an  antient  Cuftom  of  fanning  the  Face  of  the 
Sick  with  the  Leaves  of  the  Bible. 

THE  Ifle  Collofifay  is  four  Miles  in  length, 
from  Eaft  to  Wefl-,  and  above  a  Mile  in  breadth. 
The  Mould  is  brown  and  fandy  on  the  Coafl:, 
and  affords  but  a  very  fmall  Produ£l,  tho  they 
plough  their  Ground  three  times ;  the  middle 
is  rocky  and  heathy,  which  in  moft  places  is 
prettily  mingled  with  thick  Ever-greens  of  £r/- 
(a-Baccifera,  "Jumper ^  and  Ca(s-Tail. 

THE  Cattle  bred  here  are  Cows,  Horfes  and 
Sheep,  all  of  a  low  Size.  The  Inhabitants  are 
generally  well  proportioned,  and  of  a  black 
Coimpiexion  ;  they  fpeak  only  the /r//^  Tongue, 

and 


Weftern  Iflands  of  Scotland.     249 

and  ufe  the  Habit,  Diet,  &c.  that  is  ufed  in  the 
Weftern  Ifles :  they  are  all  Proteftants,  and  ob- 
ferve  the  Feftivals  o^Chrifimas,  Rafter,  and  Good- 
Friday  ;  but  the  Women  only  obferve  the  Fefti- 
val  of  the  Nativity  of  the  Blefled  Virgin.  IQl. 
euran  is  the  principal  Church  in  this  Ifle,  and 
the  Village  in  which  this  Church  is,  hath  its 
Name  from  it.  There  are  two  ruinous  Chap- 
pels  in  the  South-fide  of  this  Ifle.  There  were 
two  Stone  Chefts  found  lately  in  Kjl-ouran 
Sands,  which  were  compofed  of  five  Stones  each, 
and  had  human  Bones  in  them.  There  are  fome 
Frefh-water  Lakes  abounding  with  Trouts  in 
this  Ifle.  There  are  likewife  feveral  Forts  here, 
one  of  which  is  call'd  Dumoll ;  it  is  near  the  mid- 
dle of  the  Ifle,  it  hath  large  Scones  in  it,  and 
the  Wall  is  feven  Foot  broad. 

THE  other  Fort  is  call'd  Dun-Evan :  the 
Natives  have  a  Tradition  among  them  of  a  ve- 
ry little  Generation  of  People,  that  lived  once 
here,  calPd  Lusbirdan^  the  fame  with  Pigmies, 
This  Ifle  is  the  Duke  of  Argyle's  Property. 


HULL. 


j^o     ji  Description  of  tht 

MULL. 

THE  Ifle  of  Mull  lies  on  the  Weft  Coaft, 
oppofite  to  Lochaher,  Swoonard^  and  Moy- 
dort.  It  is  divided  from  thefe  by  a  narrow 
Channel,  not  exceeding  half  a  League  in 
breadth;  the  Ifle  is  twenty  four  Miles  long, 
from  South  to  North,  and  as  many  in  breadth 
from  Eaft  to  Weft.  A  South- Baft  Moon  caufes 
high  Tide  here.  This  Ifle  is  in  the  Sheriffdom 
of  Argyle\  the  A\v  here  is  temperately  cold 
and  moift  ;  the  frefh  Breezes  that  blow  from  the 
Mountains  do  in  fome  meafure  qualify  it :  the 
Natives  are  accuftom'd  to  take  a  Jarge  Dofe  of 
Jo[uiiv$t£  as  a  iorredive,  when  the  Seafon  is 
very  rroifl,  and  then  they  are  very  careful  to 
chew  a  piece  of  Charmel-R oot^  finding  it  to  be 
AromAtick ;  efpecially  when  they  intend  to  have 
a  Drinking-bout,  for  they  fay  this  in  fome  mea- 
fure prevents  O:  unkennefs. 

THE  Mould  is  generally  black,  and  brown, 
both  in  the  Hills  and  Valleys,  and  in  fome 
parts  a  Clay  of  different  Colours.  The  Heaths 
afford  abundance  of  Turff  and  Peats,  which 
ferve  the  Natives  for  good  Fewel.  There  is  a 
great  Ridg  of  Mountains  about  the  middle  of 
the  Ifle,  one  of  them  very  high,  and  there- 
fore caird  Bein  Fore,  i.  e.  a  great  Mountain. 
It  is  to  be  feen  from  all  the  Weftern  Ifles,  and  a 

conf^ 


Weftmi  Ifiands  0/ Scotland.  251 
confiderable  Part  of  the  Continent.  Both 
Mountains  and  Valleys  aftbrd  good  Pafturage 
for  all  forts  of  Cattle,  as  Sheep,  Goats,  and 
Deer,  which  herd  among  the  Hills  and  Bufhes. 
The  Horfes  are  bur  of  a  low  Size,  yet  very 
fprightly ;  their  black  Cattle  are  likewife  low 
in  Size,  but  their  Flefh  is  very  delicious  and 
fine.  There's  Abundance  o\  wild  Fowl  in  the 
Hills  and  Valleys;  and  among  'em  the  black 
Cock,  Heath-Hen,  Tarmagan,  and  very  fine 
Hawks :  the  Sea-Coaft  affords  all  fuch  Fowl  as 
are  to  be  had  in  the  Weftern  Ifles,  The  Corn 
growing  here,  is  only  Barley  and  Oats. 
There's  great  Variety  of  Plants  in  the  Hifls 
and  Valleys,  but  there  h  no  Wood  here,  ex- 
cept a  few  Coppices  on  the  Coaft.  There  are 
fome  Bays,  and  Places  for  Anchorage  about  the 
Ifle.  The  Bay  of  Du art  on  the  Bail  Side,  and 
to  the  North  of  the  Caftle  of  that  Name,  is 
reckoned  a  fafe  Anchoring-place,  and  frequented 
by  Strangers.  Locbbu)  on  the  oppofite  Weft 
Side,  is  but  an  indifferent  Harbour,  yet  VefTels 
go  into  it  for  Herring. 

THE  Coafton  the  Weft  abounds  with 
Rocks  for  two  Leagues  Weft  and  South- Weft. 
The  Bloody  Bay  is  over  againft  the  North  End  of 
Ifland  Columkil^  and  only  fit  for  VefTels  of  about 
an  hundred  Tun. 

SOME  few  Miles  further  to  the  North- 
Eaft  is  hoch'Levtnj  the  Entry  lies  to  the  Weft-. 

ward. 


252     J  Descrii?tio:s  of  the 
ward,  and  goes  twelve  Miles  Eafterly  ;  there 
are   Herrings  to  be  had  in    it  fometimes,   and 
it   abounds    with  Oyfters,   Cockles,    Mufcles, 
Clams,  &c, 

LOCH-LJT  lies  on  the  South  Side  of  Loch- 
Levin  ;  it  is  proper  only  for  fmall  Veflfels ;  Her- 
ring are  to  be  had  in  it  fometimes,  and  it 
abounds  with  Variety  of  Shell-Fifh  :  the  fmall 
Ifles,  called  the  white  I  le,  and  Ifle  of  Kids,  are 
within  this  Bay.  To  the  North  of  Loch- Levin 
lies  Loch- Sc afford',  it  enters  South  Weft,  and 
runs  North-Eaft  within  it  lie  the  Ifles  £or/e: 
and  Inchkenneth^  both  which  are  reputed  very 
fruitful  in  Cattle  and  Corn. 

THERE  is  a  little  Chappel  in  this  Ifle,  in 
which  many  of  the  Inhabitants  of  all  Ranks 
are  buried.  U  pon  the  North  Side  of  Loeh-Scaf- 
ford  lies  the  Ifle  of  I^evay^  it's  three  Miles  in 
Circumference,  and  encompafs'd  with  Rocks 
and  Shelves,  but  fruitful  in  Corn,  Grafs,  &c. 

T  O  the  Wefl:  of  Viva,  lies  the  Ifle  Gometra^ 
a  Mile  in  Circumference,  and  fruitful  in  propor- 
tion to  the  other  Ifles. 

ABOUT  four  Miles  further  lie  the  fmall 
Ifles,  caird  Kjitrnburg-More  and  I\jrnbug'Beg  ; 
they  are  naturally  very  ftrong,  fac'd  all  round 
with  a  Rock,  having  a  narrow  Entry,  and  a 
violent  Current  of  a  Tide  on  each  fide,  fo  that 

they 


Weflern  Iflands  of  Scotland.     255 

they  are  almoft  impregnable.  A  very  few  Mea 
are  able  to  defend  thefe  two  Forts  againft  a  thou- 
fand.  There  is  a  fmall  Garifon  of  the  Standing 
Forces  in  them  at  prefent. 

TO  the  South  of  thefe  Forts  lie  the  fmall 
Ifles  of  Fladdaj^  Lungay^  Back,  and  the  Call  of 
the  Back  :  Cod  and  Ling  are  to  be  had  plenti- 
fully about  all  thefe  Iflands. 

NEAR  to  the  North-Eaft  End  of  Mull,  lies 
the  Ifle  Calve ;  it  is  above  two  Miles  in  com- 
pafs,  has  a  Coppice,  and  affords  good  Paftu- 
rage  for  all  kind  of  Cattle.  Between  this  Ifle, 
and  the  Ifle  of  Mull,  there  is  a  capacious  and 
excellent  Bay,  called  Tonhir  Mory,  i.  e.  the  Vir- 
gin Marfs  Well ;  becaufe  the  Water  of  a  Well 
of  that  Name,  which  is  faid  to  be  Medicinal, 
f  uns  into  the  Bay. 

O  N  E  of  the  Ships  of  the  Spamjh  Armada^ 
called  the  Florida,  perifhed  in  this  Bay,  having 
been  blown  up  by  one  Smallet  of  Dunbartony 
in  the  Year  1588.  There  was  a  great  Sum  of 
Gold  and  Mony  on  board  the  Ship,  which 
difpofed  the  Earl  of  Argyle,  and  fome  Engltflj- 
men,  to  attempt  the  Recovery  of  it;  but  how 
far  the  latter  fucceeded  in  this  Enterprize,  is 
not  generally  well  known ;  only  that  fome 
Pieces  of  Gold,  and  Mony,  and  a  Golden 
Chain  was  taken  out  of  her.  I  have  feen  fome 
fine  brafs  Cannon,  fome  Pieces  of  Eight,  Teeth, 

Beads 


254      ^  DeSCR  IPTIO  N    o/ //?^ 

Beads  and  Pins  that  had  been  taken  out  of  that 
Ship.  Several  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Mull  told 
me  thu  they  had  converfed  with  their  Rela- 
rions  that  were  living  at  the  Harbour  when  this 
Ship  was  blown  up  ;  and  they  gave  an  account 
of  an  admirable  Providence  that  appear'd  in  the 
Prefervation  of  one  Doctor  Beaton,  (the  fa- 
mous Phyfician  of  Mull)  who  was  on  board 
the  Ship  when  (lie  blew  up,  and  was  then  fit- 
ting on  the  upper  Deck,  which  was  blown  up 
entire,  and  thrown  a  good  way  off;  yet  the 
Do61or  was  faved  ;  and  liv'd  feveral  Years 
after. 

THE  black  and  white  hdian  Nuts  are 
found  on  the  Weft  fide  of  this  Ifle ;  the  Na- 
tives pulverize  the  black  Kernel  or  the  black 
Nut,  and  drink  it  in  boiPd  Milk  for  curing 
the  Diarrhea. 

THERE  are  feveral  Rivers  in  the  Ifle  that 
afford  Salmon,  and  fome  Rivers  abound  with 
the  black  Mufile  that  breeds  Pearl.  There  are 
alfo  fome  frefh-water  Lakes  that  IiaveTrouts 
and  Eels.  The  whole  Ifle  is  very  well  waterM 
with  many  Springs  and  Fountains.  They  told 
me  of  a  Spring  in  the  South  fide  of  the  Moun- 
tain Bein  Vore^  that  has  a  yellow  colour'd  Stone 
at  the  Bottom,  which  doth  not  burn,  or  become 
hot,  tho  it  fhould  be  kept  in  the  Fire  for  a  whole 
day  together. 

THE 


Weflern  I/lands  of  Scotland.     255 

THE  JmphibUin  this  Ifle  are  Seals,  Otters, 
Vipers,  of  the  fame  kind  as  thofe  defcribed  in 
the  Ifle  of  Skie,  and  the  Natives  ufe  the  fame 
Cures  for  the  biting  of  Vipers.  Foxes  abound 
in  this  Ifle,  and  do  much  hurt  among  the  Lambs 
and  Kids. 

THERE  are  three  Caftles  in  the  Ifle,  to 
wit,  the  Caftle  of  Duart,  fituated  on  the  Eafl-, 
built  upon  a  Rock,  the  Eaft  fide  is  furrounded 
by  the  Sea.  This  was  the  Seat  of  Sir  John 
Mack-Lean,  Head  of  the  antient  Family  of  the 
Mack-Leans ;  and  is  now,  together  with  the 
Efl:ate,  which  was  the  major  Fart  of  the  Ifland, 
become  the  Duke  of  ArgyWs  Property,  by  the 
Forfeiture  of  Sir  'John. 

SOME  Miles  further  on  the  Wefl:  Coaft, 
ftands  the  Caftle  of  Moj,  at  the  head  of  Loch- 
buy  ^  and  is  the  Seat  of  Mack-Lean  of  Lochbuy. 

THERE  is  an  old  Caftle  ziJros  in  the 
middle  of  the  Ifland,  now  in  ruins.  There 
are  fome  old  Forts  here  called  Dunns,  fuppos'd 
to  have  been  built  by  the  Danes.  There  are 
twoParifh-Churchesinthelfle,  "jiz,  Kjilimhen' 
Bencrth,  Loch-Levin,  and  a  little  Chappel, 
call'd  Kjlivichk-Erviny  at  the  Lake  above  Loch- 
Lay  ;  each  Parifh  hath  a  Minifter.  The  Inhabi- 
tants are  all  Proteftants,  except  two  or  three, 
who  are  Roman  Catholicks ;  they   obferve  the 

Fefti- 


i')6      ^^Description  of  the 

FeftivalsofC/;r//?»?^,  Rafter ,  Good- Friday^  and 
St.  Michaers.  They  fpeak  the  Iri(h  Language 
generally,  but  thofe  of  the  beft  Rank  fpeak 
E'r^gl/(h  ;  they  wear  the  fame  Habit  as  the  reft  of 


the  ijlanders. 


J  0  K  A 

THIS  Ip  in  the  Irifh  Language  is  called 
/.  Colmkil,  i.  c.  the  Ifthmus  of  Columbtis 
the  Clergy-Man.  Colum  was  his  proper  Name, 
and  the  Addition  of  KJl,  which  fignifies  a 
Church,  was  added  by  the  Iftanders  by  way  of 
excellence  ;  for  there  were  kw  Churches  then  in 
the  remote  and  leffer  IJles, 

THE  Natives  have  a  Tradition  among 
them,  That  one  of  the  Clergy-Men  who  accom- 
panied Columbus  in  his  Voyage  thither,  having 
at  a  good  diftance  efpied  the  ///<?,  and  cry'd 
joyfully  toColumbus  in  the  7r//Z> Language,  Chi 
mi^i.e.  I  fee  her ;  meaning  thereby,  the  Coun- 
try of  which  they  had  been  in  quefl :  that  Co- 
lumbus then  anfwer'd,  It  fhall  be  from  hence- 
forth called  r. 

THE  Ifte  is  two  Miles  long  {xQ^South  to 
]S!orth,  and  one  in  breadth,  from  E^ft  to  Wef, 

The 


Wepni  IJlands  of  Scotland.      257 

The  Eaft.fide  is  all  arable  and  plain,  fruitful 
in  Corn  and  Grafs ;  the  Weft-fide  is  high  and 
rocky. 

THIS  IJle  was  antiently  a  Seminary  of 
Learning,  famous  for  the  fevere  Difcipline  and 
Sanfl:ity  of  Columbm.  He  built  two  Churches, 
and  two  Monafteries  in  it,  one  for  Men,  the 
other  for  Women ;  which  were  endowed  by 
the  Kings  of  Scotland,  and  of  the  J/ies  ;  fo  that 
the  Revenues  of  the  Church  then  amounted  to 
4000  Marks  per  Ann.  Jona  was  the  Bifhop  of 
the  IJles  Cathedral,  after  the  Scots  loft  the  IJie 
of  Man^  in  which  King  CrAtilinth  erefted  a 
Church  to  the  Honour  of  our  Saviour,  call'd 
fmum  Sodorenfe.  Hence  it  was  that  the  Bifhop 
of  the  IJles  was  ftil'd  Epifeopus  Sodorenjis.  The 
Vicar  of  Jona  was  Parfon  of  Soroby  in  Tyre-iy 
and  Dean  of  the  ]fles.  St.  Murfs  Church  here 
is  built  in  form  of  a  Crofs,  the  Choir  io  Yards 
long,  the  Cupilo  21  Foot  fquare,  the  Body  of 
the  Church  of  equal  Length  with  the  Choir, 
and  the  two  crofs  Ifles  half  that  Length.  There 
are  two  Chappels  on  each  fide  of  the  Choir, 
the  Entry  to  them  opens  with  large  Pillars 
neatly  carv'd  in  BAJfo  Relievo  ;  the  Steeple  is 
pretty  large,  the  Doors,  Windows,  &c.  are  cu- 
rioufly  carv'd ;  the  Altar  is  large,  and  of  as  fine 
Marble  as  any  I  ever  faw.  There  are  feveral 
Abbots  bury'd  within  theChurch ;  Mack-llikenich 
his  Statue  is  done  in  black  Marble,  as  big  as  the 
Life,  in  an  Epifcopal  Habit,  with  a  Mitre, 
R  Crofier, 


25B     ^Description  of  the 

Crofier,  Ring,  and  Stones  along  the  Breaft, 
&c.  The  reft  of  the  Abbots  are  done  after  the 
fame  manner ;  the  Infcription  of  one  Tomb  is 

as  follows: 

Hie  jacet  'Jonnnes  Mack-'Eingone^  Abbas  de 
Oui,  ^ui  obiit  Anno  Domini  Milefimo  Quingen- 
tefimo. 

BISHOP  K»ox,  and  feveral  Perfons  of  Di- 
flinftion,  as  Mack-Leod  of  Harries,  have  alfo 
been  buried  here. 

THERE'S  the  Ruins  of  a  Cloifter  behind 
the  Church,  as  alfo  of  a  Library,  and  under  it 
a  large  Room  ;  the  Natives  fay  it  was  a  Place 
f@r  Publick  Difputations. 

THERE  is  a  Heap  of  Stones  without  the 
Church,  under  which  Mackean  of  Ardminur- 
chin  lies  buried.  There  is  an  empty  Piece  of 
Ground  between  the  Church  and  the  Gardens, 
in  which  Murderers,  and  Children  that  died 
before  Baptifm,  were  buried.  Near  to  the 
Weft-end  of  the  Church  in  a  little  Cell  Hes  Co- 
lumbus his  Tomb,  but  without  Infcription  ; 
this  gave  meoccafion  to  cite  the  Diftich^  aflert- 
ing  that  Columbus  was  buried  in  Ireland:  at 
which  the  Natives  of  Jona  feem'd  very  much 
difpleas'd,  and  affirm'd  that  the  Irijl)  who  faid 
fo  were  impudent  Lyars ;  that  Columbus  was 
once  buried  in  this  Place,  and  that  none  ever 

came 


Weflern  IJlands  of  Scotland.     159 

came  from  Ireland  fince  to  carry  away  his  Corps, 
which  had  they  attempted,  would  have  prov'd 
equally  vain  and  prefumptuous. 

NEAR  St.  Columbus's  Tomb  is  St.  Martin's 
Crofs,  an  entire  Stone  of  eight  Foot  high  ;  it 
is  a  very  hard  and  red  Stone,  with  a  Mixture 
of  grey  in  it.  On  the  Weft-fide  of  the  Crofs 
is  engraven  a  large  Crucifix,  and  on  the  Eaft  a 
Tree  ;  it  ftands  on  a  Pedeftal  of  the  fame  kind 
of  Stone.  At  a  little  further  diftance  is  Dun 
Ni  Manich^  i.  e.  Monk's  Forty  built  of  Stone 
and  Lime,  in  form  of  a  Baftion,  pretty  high. 
From  this  Eminence  the  Monks  had  a  View  of 
all  the  Families  in  the  JJle,  and  at  the  fame 
time  enjoy'd  the  free  Air.  A  little  further  to  the 
Weft  lie  the  black  Stones,  which  are  fo  call'd, 
not  from  their  Colour,  for  that  is  grey,  but 
from  the  Effefts  that  Tradition  fay  enfued  upon 
Perjury,  if  any  one  became  guilty  of  it  after 
fwearing  on  tbefe  Stones  in  the  ufual  manner ; 
for  an  Oath  made  on  them  was  decifive  in  ail 
Controverfies. 

MACKrDONJLD,  King  of  the  7^/,  de- 
liver'd  the  Rights  of  their  Lands  to  his  Vaffals 
in  the  Iflesand  Continent,  with  up-lifted  Hands, 
and  bended  Knees  on  the  black  Stones;  and  in 
this  Pofture,  before  many  WitnefTes,  he  folemn- 
ly  fwore,  that  he  would  never  recall  thofe 
Rights  which  It€  then  granted  :  and  this  was 
inftead  of  his  Great  Seal.  Hence  it  is  that  when 
R  2  one 


2(5o     A  Description  of  the 

one  was  certain  of  what  he  affirm'd,  he  faid 
pofitively,  I  have  freedom  to  fwear  this  Matter 
upon  the  black  Stones. 

O  N  the  South- fide  the  Gate,  without  the 
Church,  is  the  Taylors  Houfe,  for  they  only 
wrought  in  it.  The  Natives  fay,  that  in  the 
time  of  a  Plague,  the  outer  Gate  was  quite  fhut 
up,  and  that  all  Provifions  were  thrown  in  thro 
a  Hole  in  the  Gate  for  that  purpofe. 

A  T  fome  diftance  South  from  St.  Mary*s  is 
.Si,  Ouran\  Church,  commonly  call'd  Reliqui 
Ouran  ;  the  Saint  of  that  Name  is  buried  with- 
in it. 

THE  Laird  of  Mack-Kjnfion  has  a  Tomb 
within  this  Church,  which  is  the  ftatelieft  Tomb 
in  the  Ip.  On  the  Wall  above  the  Tomb  there 
is  a  Crucifix  engraven,  having  the  Arms  of  the 
Family  underneath :  viz.  a  Boar's  Head,  with 
a  Couple  of  Sheep's  Bones  in  its  Jaws.  The 
Tomb-fione  has  a  Statue  as  big  as  the  Life,  all 
in  Armour,  and  upon  it  a  Ship  under  Sail,  a 
Lion  at  the  Head,  and  another  at  the  Feet. 
The  Infcription  on  the  Tomb  is  thus :  Htc  efi 
Jbbis  LuchUni^  Mack-Fingone,  &  ejus  Filius  Ab- 
hatis  dt  /.  A'Jati^  in  Dno  M^  cccc  Ann, 

THERE  are  other  Perfons  of  Diftin£lion 
in  the  Church,  all  done  in  Armour. 

ON 


Weftern  IJlands  of  Scotland.        26 1 

O  N  the  South-fide  of  the  Church,  mention'd 
above,  is  the  Burial-place  in  which  the  Kings 
and  Chiefs  of  Tribes  are  buried,  and  over  them 
a  Shrine ;  there  was  an  Infcription,  giving  an 
account  of  each  particular  Tomb,  but  Time  has 
worn  them  off.  The  middlemoft  had  written 
on  it,  The  Tombs  of  the  KJngs  of  Scotland  ;  of 
which  forty  eight  lie  there. 

UPON  that  on  the  right  hand  was  written, 
The  Tombs  of  the  KJ»gs  of  Ireland  ;  of  which 
four  were  buried  here. 

AND  upon  that  on  the  left  hand  was  writ- 
ten, The  Kjngs  of  Norway  ;  of  which  eight 
were  buried  here. 

O  N  the  right  hand  within  the  Entry  to  the 
Church-yard  there  is  a  Tomb-ftone  now  over- 
grown with  Earth,  and  upon  it  there's  written, 
Hie  jacet  Joannes  TurnbuU^  quondam  Fpifcopus 
Canterbunenfis.  This  I  deliver  upon  the  Autho- 
rity of  Mr.  Jo.  Mack-Smn,  Minifter  of  Jura, 
who  fays  he  read  it. 

NEXT  to  the  King's,  is  the  Tomb-ftone  of 
Mack-Donald  of  lla  ;  the  Arms,  a  Ship  with  hoif- 
ted  Sails,  a  Standard,  four  Lions,  and  a  Tree; 
the  Infcription,  Hie  jacet  Corf  us  Angnfii  Mack- 
Donuill  de  lie.  ^-^  -— » 


R  3  IN 


262     ^Description  of  the 

I N  the  Weft-end  is  the  Tombs  of  Gilbrid 
and  Paul  Sporran,  antient  Tribes  of  the  Mack- 
Donalds , 

THE  Families  of  Mack-Lean  of  Duart,  Loch- 
buy,  and  Coll,  lie  next  all  in  Armour,  as  big 
as  the  Life. 

MJCKrJLISTE  R,  a  Tribe  of  the  Mack- 
Donalds,  Mack-Ouery  of  Vlvay,  are  both  done 
as  above. 

THERE  is  a  Heap  of  Stones  on  which  they 
us'd  to  lay  the  Corps  while  they  dug  the  Grave. 
There  is  a  Stone  likewife  erefted  here,  concern- 
ing which  the  credulous  Natives  fay,  That  who- 
foever  reaches  out  his  Arm  along  the  Stone  three 
times,  in  the  Name  of  the  Father,  Son,  and 
Holy  Ghofl,  will  never  err  in  fleering  the  Helm 
of  a  VelTel. 

ONE  Tomb  hath  a  Clergy-man,  with  this 
Infcription  upon  it ;  San^a,  &c. 

ABOUT  a  quarter  of  a  Mile  further  South 
is  the  Church  Ronad,  in  which  feveral  Priorefi 
fes  are  buried ;  one  of  the  Infcriptions  is,  Hie 
jacet  Dna.  Anna  Terleti,  Filia  quandam  Pnorijfs 
de  Jon,a,  qu£  obiit  Anno  M^  Qhr'tjti,  Animam  A- 
hrahamo  commsndamus, 

ANO-^ 


Weft  em  IJlands  of  Scotland.     16 1 

ANOTHER  Infcription  \$  ;  Behag  Ni]n 
Sork  vie  11  vrid  Prior  iff  a  :  i.  e.  Bathia  Daughter 
to  Somerkd^  Son  of  Gilbert ^  Priorefs. 

.WITHOUT  the  Nunnery  there  is  fuch 
another  Square  as  that  befide  the  Monaftery»for 
Men.  The  two  Pavements,  which  are  of  a  hard 
red  Stone,  arc  yet  entire ;  in  the  middle  of  the 
longeft  Pavement  there  is  a  large  Crofs,  like  to 
that  mention'd  above,  and  is  call'd  Mack-Lean's 
Crofs.  There  are  nine  Places  on  the  Eaft-fide 
the  Ifle,  call'd  Ports  for  Landing. 

THE  Dock  which  was  dug  out  of  Port 
Churich  is  on  the  fhore,  to  preferve  Columbus's 
Boat  caird  Curich,  which  was  made  of  Ribs  of 
Wood,  and  the  Outfide  cover'd  with  Hides ;  the 
Boat  was  long,  and  fbarp-pointed  at  both  ends : 
Columbus  is  faid  to  have  tranfported  eighteen 
Clergy-men  in  this  Boat  to  Jo;ga. 

T  H  E  R  E  are  many  pretty  variegated  Stones 
in  the  (hore  below  the  Dock ;  they  ripen  to  a 
green  Colour,  and  are  then  proper  for  carving. 
The  Natives  fay  thefe  Stones  are  fortunate,  but 
only  for  fome  particular  thing,  which  the  Per- 
fon  thinks  fit  to  name,  in  exclufion  of  every 
thing  elfe. 

THERE  was  a  Tribe  here  c^WACtan  vie 

nojhr^  from  OJtiarii;  for  they  are  faid  to  have: 

R  4  been 


164     ^  De  SCR  IV  T 10  y!  of  the 

been  Porters.  The  Tradition  of  thefe  is,  that 
before  Columbus  died,  thirty  of  this  Family  li- 
ved then  in  "Jona,  and  that  upon  feme  provo- 
cation, Columbus  entaird  a  Curfe  upon  them  \ 
which  was,  That  they  might  all  perifh  to  the 
Number  of  five,  and  that  they  might  never 
exceed  that  Number,  to  which  they  were  ac- 
cordingly reduc'd  :  and  ever  fince,  when  any 
Woman  of  the  Family  was  in  Labour,  both 
flie  and  the  other  four  were  afraid  of  Death; 
for  if  the  Child  that  was  to  be  then  born,  did 
not  die,  they  fay  one  of  the  five  was  fure  to 
die:  and  this  they  affirm  to  have  been  veri- 
fy d  on  every  fuch  occafion  fucceffively  to  this 
day.  I  found  one  only  of  this  Tribe  living  in 
the  Ifle,  and  both  he  and  the  Natives  of  this 
and  of  all  the  Weftern  Illes,  unanimoufly  de- 
clare, that  this  Qbfervation  never  faiPd  ;  and  all 
this  little  Family  is  now  extindl,  except  this 
one  poor  JMan, 

THE  Life  of  Columbus^  written  in  the  Jrijh 
Charadler,  is  in  the  Cuftody  of  John  Mack-Neil 
in  the  Ifle  of  Barray  ;  another  Copy  of  it  is  kept 
by  Mack' Donald  of  Benbecula. 

THE  Inhabitants  have  a  Tradition,  that 
Columbus  fuffer'd  no  Women  to  ftay  in  the  Ifle 
except  the  Nuns ;  and  that  all  the  Tradefmen 
who  wrought  in  it  were  oblig'd  to  keep  their 
Wives  and  Daughters  in  the  oppofite  little  Ifle, 
caird  on  that  account  Wo?nens-lp,     They  fay 

like  wife. 


Wejleni  Iflands  of  Scotland.     26*5 

likewife,  that  it  was  to  keep  Women  out  of  the 
Ifle,  that  he  would  not  fuffer  Cows,  Sheep  or 
Goats  to  be  brought  to  it. 

BED  J,  in  his  Ecc/efiaflical  Hiflory^  Lib.  j. 
Cap.  4.    gives  this  account  of  him:     In  the 
Year  of  our  Lord  565.  (at  the  time  that  Juftin 
the  Younger  fucceeded  Jaflinian  in  the  Govern- 
ment of  the  Roman  Empire)  the  famous  Qolunu 
^  a  Presbyter  and  Abbot,  but  in  Habit  and 
Life  a  Monk,  came  from  IreUnd  to  Britain  to 
preach  the  Word  of  God  to  the  Northern  Peo- 
vinces  of  the  PiHs ;   that  is,  to  thofe  who  by 
high  and  rugged  Mountains  are  feparated  from 
the   Southern    Provinces.      For   the   Southern 
Ficis^  who  have  their  Habitation  on  this  fide  the 
fame  Hills,  had,  as  they  affirm  themfclves,  re- 
nounc'd  Idolatry,  and  receivM  the  Faith  a  long 
time  before,    by  the  preaching  of  Ninim  the 
Bifhop,  a  moft  Reverend  and  Holy  Man,  of 
the  Country    of  the  Britons^    who  was  regu- 
*larly  educated  at  Kome^    in   the  Myfleries  of 
Truth. 

I N  the  ninth  Year  of  Meilochen^  Son  to 
Pridius  King  of  PtBs,  a  moft  powerful  King, 
Columbus^  by  his  Preaching  and  Example,  con- 
verted that  Nation  to  the  Faith  of  Chrift  Upon 
this  account  they  gave  him  the  Ifle  above-men^ 
tion'd  (which  he  calls ///i,  Book  ^.  Cap.  j.)  to 
ereft  a  Monaftery  in  ;  which  his  Succelfors  pof- 
fefs  to  this  day,  and  where  he  himfelf  was  bu- 
ried, 


t66     J  Description  of  the 

ried,  in  the  feventy  feventh  Year  of  his  Age, 
and  the  thirty  lecond  after  his  going  to  Britam 
to  preach  the  Gofpel.     He  built  a  noble  Monaf- 
tery  in  Irelmd^    before  his  coming  to  Britain ; 
from  both  which  Monafteries  he  and  his  Difci- 
ples  founded  feveral  other  Monafteries  in  Britain 
and  Ireland  :   among  all  which,  the  Monaftery 
of  the  Ifland  in  which  his  Body  is  interred,  has 
the  Preheminence.     The  Ifle  has  a  ReQor,  who 
is  always  a  Presbyter-Abbot,   to  whofe  Jurif- 
didion  the  whole  Province,   and  the  Bifhops 
themfelves  ought  to  be  fubjed,  tho  the  thing  bs^ 
unufual,  according  to  the  Example  of  that  firft 
Dodor,  who  was  not  a  Bifliop,  but  a  Presbyter 
and  Monk ;   and  of  whofe  Life  and  Dodrine 
fome  things  are  faid  to  be  wrote  by  his  Difciples. 
But  whatever  he  was,  this  is  certain,  that  he 
left  SuccefTors  eminent  for  their  great  Chaftity, 
divine  Love,  and  regular  Inftitution. 

THIS  Monaftery  furnifh'd  Bifhops  to  feve- 
ral  Dioceftes  of  England  and  Scotland ;    and  a-  * 
mongft  others,  Jidnnus,  who  was  fent   from 
thence,   and  was  Bifhop  of  Lindisfairn,   now 
Holj-ljtand. 


The 


Wefiern  Iflands  of  Scoclan<J.      i6yf 

The  IJJe  of  Tire-iy,  is  fo  calfd,  from  Tire 
a  Country^  and  ly  an  Ifthmiis  5  the  (I(ocks 
in  the  narrow  Channel  fcem  to  favour  the 
Etymology. 

^W^  H I S  Ifle  lies  about  eight  Leagues  to  the 
J^  V^c^o^  'jom.ov  IXolm-Kjl,  The  Land 
is  low  and  moorifh,  but  there  are  two  little 
Hills  on  the  South- Weft  fide;  the  Mould  is 
generally  brown,  and  for  the  moft  part  fandy. 
The  Weftern  fide  is  rocky  for  about  three 
Leagues ;  the  Ifle  affords  no  convenient  Har- 
bour for  Ships,  but  has  been  always  valued  for 
its  extraordinary  Fruitfulnefs  in  Corn,  yet  being 
tilPd  every  year,  it  is  become  lefs  fruitful  than 
formerly.  There  is  a  plain  Piece  of  Ground  a- 
bout  fix  Miles  in  compafs  on  the  Eaft-Coaft, 
caird  the  K/i/e ;  the  Grafs  is  feldom  fufFer'd  to 
grow  .the  length  of  half  an  inch,  being  only 
kept  as  a  Common,  yet  is  believ'd  to  excel  any 
Parcel  of  Land  of  its  Extent  in  the  Ifles,  or  op- 
pofite  Continent :  there  are  fmall  Channels  in  it, 
thro  which  the  Tide  of  Flood  comes  in,  and  ^c 
fometimes  overflows  the  whole. 

T  H  E  Ifle  is  four  Miles  in  length  from  the 
South- Eaft  to  the  North- Weft ;  the  Natives 
for  the  moft  part  live  on  Barley-Bread,  Butter, 
Milk,  Cheefe,  Fifli,  and  fome  eat  the  Roots 
of  Silver-weed  ;  there  are  but  ^q^  that  eat  any 

FleOi. 


268     ^Descriptiono/^^^ 

Flefh,  and  the  Servants  ufe  Water-Gruel  often 
with  their  Bread.  In  plentiful  Years  the  Na- 
tives drink  Ale  generafly.  There  are  three 
Ale-houfes  in  the  Ifle^  the  Brewers  preferve 
their  Ale  in  large  earthen  Veflels,  and  fay  they 
are  much  better  for  this  purpofe  than  thofe  of 
Wood  ;  fome  of  them  contain  twelve  EngUfh 
Gallons.  Their  Meafure  for  Drink  is  a  third 
part  larger  than  any  I  could  obferve  in  any 
other  part  of  Scotland.  The  Ale  that  I  had  in 
the  Inn  being  too  weak,  I  told  my  Hoft  of  it, 
who  promisM  to  make  it  better ;  for  this  end 
he  took  a  HeBk-Stone^  and  having  made  it 
red  hot  in  the  Fire,  he  quench'd  it  in  the  Ale. 
The  Company  and  I  -were  fatisfy'd  that  the 
Drink  was  a  little  more  brisk,  and  I  told  him 
that  if  he  could  add  fome  more  Life  to  our  Ale, 
he  would  extremely  oblige  the  Company. 
This  he  frankly  undertook ;  and  to  efFe£t  it, 
toafted  a  Barley-Cake,  and  having  broke  it  in 
pieces,  he  put  it  into  the  Difh  with  the  Ale: 
and  this  Experiment  we  found  as  efFcftual  as  the 
firft.  I  enquired  of  him  if  he  had  any  more  Art 
to  revive  our  Ale,  and  then  he  would  make  it 
pretty  good ;  he  anfwer'd,  that  he  knew  of 
nothing  elfe  but  a  Malt-Cake,  which  he  had 
not  then  ready  :  and  fo  we  were  oblig'd  to  con- 
tent our  felves  with  what  pains  had  been  al- 
ready us'd  to  revive  our  Drink.  The  Natives 
preferve  their  Yeafl  by  an  Oaken  Wyth,  which 
rhcy  twjft  and  put  into  it  \  and  for  future  ufe, 

keep 


Weftern  Iflands  of  Scotland.     26^ 

keep  it  in  Barlcy-Straw.  The  Cows  and  Hor- 
fes  are  of  a  very  low  Size  in  this  Ifle,  being  in 
the  Winter  and  Spring-time  often  reduc'd  to 
eat  Sea- Ware.  The  Cows  give  plenty  of  Milk ; 
when  they  have  enough  of  frefh  Sea-Ware  to 
feed  on,  it  fattens  them  :  the  Horfes  pace  natu^ 
rally,  and  are  very,  fprightly,  tho  little.  The 
Ground  abounds  with  Flint-ftone  ;  the  Natives 
tell  roe  they  find  pieces  of  Sulphur  in  feveral 
places.  The  Weft  Winds  drive  the  ordinary 
Indian  Nuts  to  the  fhore  of  this  Ifle,  and  the 
Natives  ufe  them  as  above,  for  removing  the 
Diarrhea ;  and  the  Water  of  the  Well  called 
Tonhir  in  Donich,  is  by  the  Natives  drunk  as  a 
Catholicon  for  Difeafes. 

SOME  Years  ago,  about  one  hundred  and 
fixty  little  Whales,  the  biggeft  not  exceeding 
twenty  Foot  long,  run  themfelves  afbore  in 
this  Ifle,  very  feafonably,  in  time  of  Scarcity, 
for  the  Natives  did  eat  them  all ;  and  told  me 
that  the  Sea-Pork,  /.  e.  the  Whale,  is  both  whole- 
fom,  and  very  nourifhing  Meat.  There  is  a 
Frefh-warer  Lake  in  the  middle  of  the  Ifle,  on 
the  Eaft-fide  of  which  there  is  an  old  Caftle 
now  in  Ruins.  The  Ifle  being  low  and  moor- 
ifh,  is  unwholefom,  and  makes  the  Natives  fub- 
je£t  to  the  Ague.  The  Inhabitants  living  in  the 
South- Eaft  Farts,  are  for  the  moft  part  bald, 
and  have  but  very  thin  Hair  on  their  Heads. 
There  is  a  Cave  in  the  South- Weft,  which  the 
Natives  are  accuftom'd  to  watch  in  the  Night, 

and 


270     ^  Description  of  the 

and  then  take  many  Cormorants  in  ir.  There 
are  feveral  Forts  in  the  Jflc ;  one  in  the  middle 
of  it,  and  Dun-Taelk  in  Baelly  Petris :  they  are 
in  form  tlie  fame  with  thofe  in  the  Northern 
Ifles.  There  are  feveral  great  and  fmall  Cir- 
cles of  Stones  in  this  Ifle.  The  Inhabitants  are 
all  Proteftants;  they  obferve  the  Feftivals  of 
Chrijimds^  Good-Friday^  Eajler^  and  St.  MichaePs 
Day.  Upon  the  latter  there  is  a  genera!  Caval- 
cade, at  which  all  the  Inhabitants  rendezvous. 
They  fpeak  the  Iriflj  Tongue,  and  wear  the 
Highland  Drefs.  This  Ifle  is  the  Duke  of  Ar- 
gyle's  Property,  it  being  one  of  the  Ifles  lately 
poiTefs'd  by  the  Laird  of  Mack-Lea^ :  the  Pa- 
rifb-Church  in  the  Ifle  is  call'd  Sorobj/^  and  is  a 
Parfonage. 


77;^? 


Wejlern  Ijlands^  of  Scotland.     271 

The  IJle  of  COLL. 

TP  HIS  Ifle  lies  about  half  a  League  to  the 
J^  Eaft  and  North-Eaft  of  Tire-iy^  from 
which  it  hath  been  fever'd  by  the  Sea.  It  is 
ten  Miles  in  length,  and  three  in  breadth ;  it 
is  generally  compos'd  of  little  rocky  Hills,  co- 
ver'd  with  Heath.  The  North-fide  is  much 
plainer,  and  arable  Ground,  affording  Barley 
and  Oats ;  the  Inhabitants  always  hti  on  the 
latter,  and  thofe  of  Tire-iy  on  the  former.  The 
Ifle  of  Coll  produces  more  Boys  than  Girls,  and 
the  Ifle  of  Tire-iy  more  Girls  than  Boys ;  as  if 
Nature  intended  both  thefe  Ifles  for  mutual 
Alliances,  without  being  at  the  trouble  of  go- 
ing to  the  adjacent  Ifles  or  Continent  to  be 
matched.  The  Parifli-Book,  in  which  the  num- 
ber of  the  Baptized  is  to  be  feen,  confirms  this 
Obfervation. 

THERE  are  feveral  Rivers  in  this  Ifle  that 
afford  Salmon.  There  is  a  Frefh-water  Lake  in 
the  South-Eaft  fide,  which  hath  Trouts  and 
Eels.  Within  a  quarter  of  a  Mile  lies  a  little 
Caftle,  the  Seat  of  Mack-Lem  of  Coll,  the  Pro- 
prietor of  the  Ifle :  he  and  all  the  Inhabitants  are 
Proteftants  ;  they  obferve  the  Feftivals  of 
Chrifimas,  Good-Friday,  Eajler,  and  St.  Michael : 
at  the  latter  they  have  a  general  Cavalcade. 
All  the  Inhabitants  fpeak  the  Irijh  Tongue,  (a 


lyz      y^  Description  of  the 

few  excepted)  and  wear  the  Habit  us'd  by  the 
reft  of  the  Iflanders.  This  IJle  is  much  whole- 
fomer  than  that  of  Tire-iy.  I  faw  a  Gentleman 
of  Mack-Lean  of  ColPs  Family  here,  aged  eigh- 
ty five,  who  walked  up  and  down  the  Fields 
daily. 

COD  and  Ling  abound  on  the  Coaft  of 
this  IJle,  and  are  of  a  larger  Size  here  than  in 
the  adjacent  Ips  or  Continent. 

ON  the  South-Eaft  Coaft  of  this  7/7^  lie  the 
Train  of  Rocks,  call'd  the  Cam  of  Coll ;  they 
reach  about  half  a  League  from  the  Shore,  and 
are  remarkable  for  their  Fatality  to  Sea-faring 
A/len,  of  which  there  are  feveral  late  Inftances. 
There  is  no  venomous  Creature  in  this  Ifland, 
or  that  of  Tire-iy. 


(IIUM. 


IVeftern  IJlands  of  Scotland.     27  j 

(^  U  M. 

THIS  JJle  lies  about  four  Leagues  South 
from  ^kie ;  it  is  mountainous  and  heathy, 
but  the  Coaft  is  arable  and  fruitful.  The  JJIe  is 
five  Miles  long  from  South  to  North,  and  three 
from  Eaft  to  Weft ;  the  North  end  produces 
fome  Wood.  The  Rivers  on  each  fide  afford 
Salmon.  There  is  plenty  of  Land  and  Sta- 
Fowl ;  fome  of  the  latter,  efpecially  the  Puffin^ 
build  in  the  Hills  as  much  as  in  the  Rocks  on  the 
Coafi,  in  which  there  are  abundance  of  Caves : 
the  Rock  facing  the  Weft  fide  is  red,  and  that 
on  the  Eaft  fide  grey  The  Mountains  have 
fome  hundred  of  Deer  gracing  in  them.  The 
Natives  gave  me  an  account  of  a  ftrange  Ob- 
fervation,  which  they  fay  proves  fatal  to  the 
Pofterity  of  Lachlin,  a  Cadet  of  Mack-Lean  of 
CoU'^s  Family  ;  That  if  any  of  them  (hoot  at  a 
Dear  on  the  Mountain  Fi»chra,  he  dies  fud- 
denly,  or  contradts  fome  violent  Diftemper, 
which  foon  puts  a  Period  to  his  Life.  They 
told  me  fome  Inftances  to  this  purpofe  :  what- 
ever may  be  in  it,  there  is  none  of  the  Tribe 
above-nam'd  will  ever  offer  to  fhoot  the  Deer  in 
that  Mountain. 

THE  Bay  Loch^Screford  on  the  Eaft  fide  is 
not  fit  for  anchoring,  except  without  the  Entry. 

S  THERE 


i74    ^  Description  of  the 

THERE  is  a  Chappel  in  this  7/Z^ ;  the  Na- 
tives are  Proteftants ;  Mack-Lean  of  Coll  is  Pro- 
prietor, and  the  Language  and  Habit  the  fame 
with  the  Northern  y^^i. 


Ijle   MU  CI{, 

IT  lies  a  little  to  the  South- Weft  of  Rum, 
being  four  Miles  in  Circumference,  all  fur- 
rounded  with  a  Rock  ;  it  is  fruitful  in  Corn  and 
Grafs :  the  Hawks  in  the  Rocks  here  are  reputed 
to  be  very  good.  The  Cattle,  Fowls,  and  Am- 
phibia of  this  Ifland,  are  the  fame  as  in  other 
IJles  ;  the  Natives  fpeak  the  Irijb  Tongue  only, 
and  ufe  the  Habit  wore  by  their  Neighbours. 


JJle 


Wejlern  IJlands  of  Scotland.     275 

Ijle   CAKKAT. 

THIS  Ifle  lies  about  half  a  Mile  of  Rum  ; 
it  is  two  Miles  from  South  to  North, 
and  one  from  Eaft  to  Weft.  It  is  for  the  raoft 
part  furrounded  with  a  high  Rock,  and  the 
whole  fruitful  in  Corn  and  Grafs:  The  South 
end  hath  plenty  of  Cod  and  Ling. 

THERE  is  a  high  Hill  In  the  North  end, 
which  diforders  the  Needle  in  the  Compafs ;  I 
laid  the  Compafs  on  the  itony  Ground  near  it, 
and  the  Needle  went  often  round  with  great 
Swiftnefs,  and  inftead  of  fettling  towards  the 
North,  as  ufual,  ic  fettled  here  due  Eaft.  The 
Stones  in  the  Surface  of  the  Earth  are  black,  and 
the  Rock  below  facing  the  Sea  is  red ;  fome  af- 
firm that  the  Needle  of  a  Ship's  Compafs,  fail- 
ing by  the  HiH,  is  diforder'd  by  the  Force  of 
the  Magnet  in  this  Rock :  but  of  this  1  have  no 
Certainty. 

THE  Natives  call  this  Ifle  by  the  Name 
Tarfm  at  Sea  ;  the  Rock  Heisker  on  the  South 
end  abounds  with  wild  Geefe  in  Augufi,  and  then 
they  eaft  their  Quills.  The  Church  in  this  Ifle  is 
dedicated  to  St.  Columbus.  All  the  Natives  are 
Roman  Catholicks ;  they  ufe  the  Language  and 
Habit  of  the  other  Ifles.  Allan  Mack-Donald  is 
Proprietor.  There  is  good  Anchorage  on  the 
North-Eaft  of  this  Ifle. 

S  2  J 


27<^     ^Description  of  the 

A  Vejcription  of  the  Ifle  of  LGG. 


■^HIS  Ifle  lies  to  the  South  of  Skie  about 
__      four  Leagues ;  it  is  three  Miles  in  length," 
a  Mile  and  a  half  in  breadth,  and  about  nine  in 
circumference:  It  is  all  rocky  and  mountainous 
from  the  middle  towards  the  Weft  ;    the  Eaft 
fide  is  plainer,  and  more  arable  :  the  whole  is 
indilf'erent  good  for  Pafturage  and  Cultivation. 
There  is  a  Mountain  in  the  South  end,  and  on 
the  top  of  it  there  is   a  high  Rock  call'd  Skur 
Egg^  about  an  hundred  and  fifty  Paces  in  Cir- 
cumference, and  has  a  frefii-water  Lake  in  the 
middle  of  it  ;    there  is  no  accefs  to  this  Rock 
but  by  one  PafTage,  vvhicli  makes  it  a  natural 
Fort.     There  is  a  Harbour  on  the  South-Eaft 
fide  of  this  Ifle,  which  may  be  enter'd  into  by 
either  fide  the  fmal)  Ifle  without  it.     There  is 
a  very  big  Cave  on  the  South  Wefl:  fide  of  this 
Ifle,  capable  of  containing  feveral  hundreds  of 
People.     The  Coaft  guarding  the  North- Wefl 
is  a  foft  Quarry  of  white  Stone,  having  fome 
Caves  in  it.     There  is  a  Well  in  the  Village 
caird  fivepenfjies,    reputed    efficacious   againfl 
ftveral  Dlitempers ;    the  Natives  told  me  that 
it  never  fjils  to  cure  any  Perfon  of  their  firfl 
Difcafe^only  by  drinking  a  Quantity  of  it  for 
tiie  fpace  of  two  or  three  days ;    and  that  if 
a  Scran j^er  lie  at  this  Well  in  the  night-time, 

it 


Wejlcrn  Iflands  of  Scotland.     277 

it  will  procure  a  Deformity  in  fome  part  of 
his  Body,  but  has  no  fuch  effect  on  a  Native ; 
and  this  they  fay  hath  been  frequently  expe- 
rimented. 

THERE  is  a  heap  of  Stones  here,  callM 
Martm  Dtfjil,  i.  e.  a  Place  conlcctated  to  the 
Saint  of  that  Name,  about  which  the  Na- 
tives oblige  themfeives  to  make  a  Tour  round 
Sunways. 

THERE  is  another  heap  of  Stones,  which 
they  fay  was  confecrated  to  the  Virgin  Mar), 

IN  the  Village  on  the  South  Coaft  of  this 
Ifle  there  is  a  Well,  call'd  St.  K.tithertne\  V/e!)  ; 
the  Natives  have  it  in  great  Efteem,  and  be- 
lieve it  to  be  a  CathoUcon  for  Difeafes.     They 
told  me  that  it  had  been  fuch  ever  fince  it  was 
confecrated    by  one   Father   Hugh.^    a  Popifh 
Tneft,  in  the  following  manner  :     He  oblig'd 
all  the  Inhabitants  to  come  to  this  Well,  and 
then  imploy'd  them  to  bring  together  a  great 
heap  of  Stones  at  the  Head  of  the  Spring,  by 
way  of  Penance.     This  being  done,    he  faid 
Mafs  at  the  Well,   and  then   confecrated   it  ; 
he. gave  each  of  the  Inhabitants  a  piece  of  Wax 
Candle,  which  they   lighted,   and  all  of  them 
made  the  Deffii,  of  going  round  the  Well  Sun- 
ways,  the  Prieft  leading  chem  :  and  from  that 
time  it  was  accounted  unlawful  to  boil  any  Meat 
with  the  Water  of  this  Well. 

S  J  THE 


ijZ     ^  Description  o/ffce 

THE  Natives  obferve  St.  l^atherine*s  Amu 
verfarv  ;  all  of  them  come  to  the  Well,  and 
having  drank  a  Draught  of  it,  they  make  the 
Dejjil  round  it  Sunways;  this  is  always  per- 
formed on  the  1 5  th  Day  of  April.  The  Inha- 
bitants of  this  Ifle  are  well  proportioned  ;  they 
fpeak  the  Irifh  Tongue  only,  and  wear  the 
Habit  of  the  Iflanders ;  they  are  all  Roman 
Catholicks,  except  one  Woman,  that  is  a  Pro- 
teftant. 

THERE  is  a  Church  here  on  the  Eaft  fide 
the  Ifle,  dedicated  to  St.  Donmn^  whofe  Anni- 
verfary  they  obferve. 

ABOUT  thirty  Yards  from  the  Church 
there  is  a  Sepulchral  Urn  under  ground ;  it  is 
a  big  Stone  hewn  to  the  bottom,  about  four 
Foot  deep,  and  the  Diameter  of  it  is  about  the 
fame  breadth  ;  I  caus'd  'em  to  dig  the  ground 
above  it,  and  we  found  a  fiat  thin  Stone  co- 
vering the  Urn  :  it  was  almofl:  full  of  hu- 
man Bones,  but  no  Head  among  them,  and 
they  were  fair  and  dry,  I  enquirM  of  the  Na- 
tives what  was  become  of  the  Heads,  and  they 
could  not  tell ;  but  one  of  them  faid,  perhaps 
their  Heads  had  been  cut  off  with  a  two- 
handed  Sword,  and  taken  away  by  the  Enemy. 
-Some  {f^^  paces  to  the  North  of  the  Urn  there 
is  a  narrow  ftone  PaiTage  under  ground,   but 

how 


Weft  em  Iftands  of  Scotland.        279 

how  far  it   reaches  they  could  give  me  no 
account. 

THE  Natives  dare  not  call  this  Ifle  by  its 
ordinary  Name  of  Egg,  when  they  are  at  Sea, 
but  Ifland  Nim-Ban-More,  i.  e.  the  Ifle  of  big 
Women.  St.  Donnari*s  Well,  which  is  in  the 
South-Weft  end,  is  in  great  Efteem  by  the  Na^ 
lives ;  for  St.  Dortmn  is  the  celebrated  Tutelar 
of  this  Ifle.  The  Natives  do  not  allow  PfO" 
teftants  to  come  to  their  Burial, 

THE  Proprietors  of  the  Ifle  are  Alian  Mack- 
Donald  of  Mojdorty  and  AUan  Mack-Donald  of 
Moron, 


St. 


i8o     ^Description  of  the 

St,  J^ILVA,    or  HI(IlT. 

TH  E  firft  of  thefe  Names  is  taken  from 
one  KjUer,  who  lived  here  ;  and  from 
him  the  large  Well  Tonbir-I^ilda  has  aJfo  its 
Name.  Hirta  is  taken  from  the  Irifh  ler^  which 
in  that  Language  fignifies  Wefi  ;  this  Ifle  lies 
diredly  Oppofite  ioxhQ{{\tso^ North-Fiji,  Har- 
ries, &:c.  It  is  reckon'd  1 8  Leagues  from  the 
former,  and  20  from  Harries.  This  Ifle  is  by 
Peter  Goas,  in  a  Map  he  made  of  it  at  Rotter- 
dam,  ealJ'd  St.  K^ilder ;  it  is  the  remoteft  of  all 
the  Scots  North- Weif  Ifles:  It  is  about  two 
Miles  in  Icigch,  and  one  in  breadth  ;  it  is  faced 
all  round  with  a  fteep  Rock,  except  the  Bay  on 
the  South-Eaft,  which  is  not  a  Harbour  fit  for 
any  Veffel,  tho  in  the  time  of  a  Calm  one 
may  land  upon  the  Rock,  and  get  up  into  the 
Ifland  with  a  little  climbing.  I  he  Land  rifes 
pretty  high  in  the  middle,  and  there  is  one 
Mountain  higher  than  any  other  part  of  the 
Ifland.  There  are  feveral  Fountains  of  good 
Water  on  each  fide  this  Ifle.  The  Corn  pro- 
duc'd  here  is  Oats  and  Barley,  the  latter  is  the 
largeft  in  the  VVeftern  Ifles. 

THE  Horfes  and  Cows  here  are  of  a  lower 
Size  than  in  the  adjacent  Ifles,  but  the  Sheep 
differ  only  in  the  Bignefs  of  their  Horns,  which 
»re  very  long. 

THERE 


Wejlern  Iflands  0/ Scotland.      281 

7'  H  E  R  E  is  an  antient  Fort  on  the  South 
end  o^  the  Bay,  call'd  Dun-fir-Folg,  i.  e.  the 
Fort  of  the  P^olfcij :  This  is  the  Senle  put  upon 
the  Word  by  the  JrJt^qaanes  of  the  oppofite 
Illes  of  r//?. 

TH  E  Ifle  Soa  is  near  half  a  Mile  diftant  from 
the  Weft- fide  of  St  KjUa  ;  it  is  a  Mile  in  cir- 
cumference, very  high,  and  fteep  all  round  Bo- 
rera,  lies  above  two  Leagues  North  of  St.  I(j/dai 
it  is  near  a  Mile  in  circumference,  the  moft  of  it 
furrounded  with  a  high  Rock.  The  largeft  and 
the  two  leffer  Ifles  are  good  for  Pafturage,  and 
abound  with  a  prodigious  Number  of  Sea-fowl, 
from  March  till  September ;  the  SoUn  Geefe  are 
very  numerous  here,  infomuch  that  the  Inhabi- 
tants commonly  keep  yearly  above  twenty  thou- 
fand  young  and  old  in  their  little  ftone  Houfes, 
of  which  there  are  fome  hundreds  for  preferv- 
ing  their  Fowls,  Eggs,  &c.  They  ufe  no  Salt 
for  preferving  their  Fowl ,  the  Eggs  of  the  Sea 
Wild-fowl  are  preferv'd  fome  Months  in  the 
Afhes  of  Peats,  and  are  aftringsnt  to  fuch  as 
be  not  accuftom'd  to  eat  them. 

THE  Solm  Goofe  is  in  fize  fomewhat  lefs 
than  a  Land-Goofe,  and  of  a  white  Colour,  ex- 
cept the  tips  of  the  Wings,  which  are  black, 
and  the  top  of  their  Head,  which  is  yellow; 
their  Bill  is  long,  fmall  pointed,  and  very  hard, 
and  pierces  an  Inch  deep  into  Wood,  in  their 

Defcent 


28  1       y^  D  E  S  C  R  I  P  T  1  O  N  o/  f/?^ 

Defctnt  after  a  Fifh  laid  on  a  Board,  as  fome 
ufe  to  catch  'em.  When  they  fleep,  they  put 
their  Hcdd  under  their  Wings,  but  one  of  'em 
keeps  watch,  and  if  that  be  furpriz'd  by  the 
Fowler  (which  often  happens)  all  the  reft  are 
then  eafiiy  caught  by  the  neck,  one  after  ano- 
ther ;  bur  if  the  Sentinel  gives  warning,  by  cry- 
ing loud,  then  all  the  Flock  make  their  Efcape. 
When  this  Fowl  fiQies  for  Herring,  it  flies  a- 
bout  fixcy  Yards  high,  and  then  defcends  per- 
pendicularly into  the  Sea,  but  alter  all  other 
Fifh  it  defcends  a-fquint:  the  reafon  for  this 
manner  of  purfuing  the  Herrings,  is,  becaufe 
they  are  in  greater  shoals  than  any  other 
Fifh  whatfoever. 

THERE  is  a  barren  Tribe  of  SoUn  Geefe, 
that  keep  always  together,  and  never  mix  a- 
mong  the  reft  that  build  and  hatch.  The  Solan 
Geefe  come  to  thofe  Iflands  in  March,  taking 
the  advantage  of  a  South- Weft  Wind  :  before 
their  coming,  they  fend  a  few  of  their  Number, 
as  Harbingers  before  them,  and  when  they  have 
made  a  Tour  round  the  Ifles,  they  return  im- 
mediately to  their  Company ;  and  in  a  few  days 
after,  the  whole  Flock  comes  together,  and  ftays 
till  September.  The  Natives  make  a  Pudding  of 
the  Fat  of  this  Fowl,  in  the  Stomach  of  ir,  and 
boil  it  in  their  -Water-gruel,  which  they  call 
Brochan ;  they  drink  it  likewife  for  removing 
the  Cough  :  It  is  by  daily  Experience  found 
to  be  an  excellent  Vulnerary, 

THE 


IVeJlent  Jpands  0/ Scotland.     285 

THE  Inhabitants  eat  the  Sola»  Goofe-Egg 
raw,  and  by  Experience  find  it  to  be  a  good 
Peroral.    The  Solan  Geefe  are  daily  making  up 
their   Nefts    from  March  til]  September;    they 
make  'em  in  the  Shelves  of  high  Rocks ;  they 
fifb,  hatch,  and  make  their  Nefts  by  turns,  and 
they  amafs  for  this  end  a  great  Heap  of  Grafs, 
and  fuch  other  things  as  they  catch  floating  on 
the  Water  :  the  Steward  of  St.  Kj^da^  told  me, 
that  they  had  found  a  red  Coat  in  a  Nefl,  a 
Brafs  Sun-dial,  and  an  Arrow,  and  fome  Mo- 
lucca Beans  in  another  Neft.     This  Sola»  Goofe 
is  believ'd  to  be  the  fbarpeft  fighted  of  all  Sea- 
fowls  ;    it  preferves  five  or  fix  Herrings  in  its 
Gorget  entire,  and  carries  them  to  the  Nefl-, 
where  it  fpews  them  out  to  ferve  as  Food  to 
the  young  ones;.*  they  are  obferv'd  to  go  a  fifh- 
ing  to  feveral  Ifles  that  lie  about  thirty  Leagues 
diftant,  and  carry  the  Fifh  in  their  Gorget  all 
that  way  ;   and  this  is  confirm'd  by  the  Engli(h 
Hooks,  which  are  found  flicking  to  the  Fifh- 
Bones  in  their  Nefts,  for  the  Natives  have  no 
fuch  Hooks  among  them. 

THEY  have  another  Bird  here  calPd  Ful- 
mar ;  it  is  a  grey  Fowl,  about  the  fize  of  a  Moor- 
Hen  :  it  has  a  ftrong  Bill,  with  wide  Noftrils; 
as  often  as  it  goes  to  Sea,  it  is  a  certain  fign  of  a 
Weftern  Wind,  for  it  fits  always  on  the  Rock, 
whe3  the  Wind  is  to  blow  from  any  other 
Quarter,   This  Fowl,  the  Natives  fay,  picks  its 

Food 


284     ^  Description  of  the 

Food  out  of  live  Whales,  and  that  it  eats  Sor- 
rel ;  for  both  thofe  forts  of  Food  are  found  in 
its  Neft.  When  any  one  approaches  the  Fa/- 
mar^  it  fpouts  out  at  its  Bill  about  a  Quart  of 
pure  Oil  ;  the  Natives  furprize  the  Fowl,  and 
preferve  the  Oil,  and  burn  it  in  their  Lamps :  it 
is  good  againft  Rheumatick  Pains  and  Aches  in 
the  Bones,  the  Inhabitants  of  the  adjacent  Ifles 
value  it  as  a  Catholicon  for  Difeafes ;  fome  take 
it  for  a  Vomit,  others  for  a  Purge.  It  has  been 
fuccefsfully  us'd  again  It  Rheumatick  Pains  in  E- 
dinhurgh  and  London  :  in  the  latter  it  has  been 
lately  us'd  to  alTuage  the  fwelling  of  a  ftrain'd 
Foot,  a  Cheek  fwelPd  with  the  Tooth-ach,  and 
for  difcufling  a  hard  Boil ;  and  prov'd  fuccefsful 
in  all  the  three  Cafes. 

THERE  is  plenty  of  Cod  and  Ling,  of  a 
great  fize,  round  this  Ifle,  the  Improvement  of 
which  might  be  of  great  advantage. 

THE  Inhabitants  are  about  two  hundred 
in  number,  and  are  well  proportion'd ;  they 
fpeak  the  Irtfh  Language  only ;  their  Habit  is 
much  like  that  usM  in  the  adiacent  Ifles,  but 
coarfer :  They  are  not  fubjett  to  many  Difea* 
fes;  they  contrad  a  Cough  as  often  as  any 
Strangers  land  and  ftay  for  any  time  among 
them,  and  it  continues  for  fome  eight  or  ten 
Days  ;  they  fay  the  very  Infants  on  the  Breaft 
are  infeft^'d  by  it.  The  Men  are  ftronger  than 
the  Inhabitants  of  the  oppofice  Weftern  Ifles ; 

they 


Weflern  Iflands  of  Scotland.      285 

they  feed  much  on  Fowl,  efpecially  the  Soia» 
Geefe,  Puffin,  and  Fulmar,  eating  no  Salt  with 
them.  This  is  believM  to  be  the  caufe  of  a  Le- 
profy,  that  is  broke  out  among  them  of  late : 
one  of  them  that  was  become  corpulent,  and 
had  his  Throat  almoft  fhut  up,  being  advis'd 
by  me  to  take  Salt  with  his  A/lear,  to  exercife 
himfelf  more  in  the  Fields  than  he  had  done  of 
late,  to  forbear  eating  of  fat  Fowl,  and  the  fat 
Pudding  caird  Gihe^,  and  to  eat  Sorrel  5  was 
very  much  concern'd,  becaufe  all  this  was  very 
dilagreeable ;  and  my  advifing  him  to  eat  Sor- 
rel, was  perfeiElIy  a  Surprize  to  him  :  but  when 
I  bid  him  confider  how  the  fat  Fulmar  eat  this 
Plant,  he  was  at  laft  difpos"'d  to  take  my  Ad- 
vice ;  and  by  this  means  alone,  in  ^tw  days  af- 
ter, his  Voice  was  much  clearer,  his  Appetite 
recovered,  and  he  was  in  a  fair  way  of  Reco- 
very. Twelve  of  thefe  Lepers  died  the  Year 
after  of  this  Diflemper,  and  were  in  the  fame 
Condition  with  this  Man. 

BOTH  Sexes  have  a  Genius  for  Foefy,  and 
compofe  entertaining  Verfes  and  Songs  in  their 
own  Language,  which  is  very  Emphatical.  Some 
Years  ago,  about  twenty  of  their  Number  hap- 
pened to  be  confin'd  in  the  Rock  Stack  N'^armm 
for  feveral  days  together,  without  any  kind  of 
Food  ;  the  Seafon  then  not  favouring  their  En- 
deavours to  return  home,  one  of  their  Num- 
ber pluck'd  all  their  Knives  out  of  the  Hafts, 
wrought  a  Hook  out  of  each,  and  then  beat 

them 


1^6     y^  Description  of  the 

them  out  to  their  former  length ;  he  had  a  Stone 
for  an  Anvil,  and  a  Dagger  for  a  Hammer  and 
File:  and  with  thefe  rude  Hooks,  and  a  few 
forry  Fiiliing-Lines,  they  purchased  Fifh  for 
their  Maintenance,  during  their  Confinement 
for  feveral  Days  in  the  Rock.  All  the  Men  in 
the  I  fie  having  gone  to  the  Ifle  Borer  ay  for  pur- 
chafe,  the  Rope  that  faften'd  their  Boat  hap- 
pen'd  to  break  ;  and  by  this  unlucky  Accident, 
the  Boat  was  quite  loft,  and  the  poor  People 
confin'd  in  the  Ille  from  the  middle  of  March 
till  the  latter  end  of  May,  without  fo  much  as 
a  Cruft  of  Bread ;  but  they  had  Sheep,  Fowl 
and  Fifh  in  abundance.  They  were  at  a  lofs 
how  to  acquaint  their  Wives  and  Friends,  that 
all  of  them  were  alive  ;  but  to  effe£l  this,  they 
kindled  as  many  Fires  on  the  top  of  an  Emi- 
nence as  there  were  Men  in  number :  this  was 
no  fooner  feen,  and  the  Fires  counted,  than  the 
Women  underftood  the  Signal,  and  were  fo  o- 
verjoy'd  at  this  unexpeded  News,  that  they  fell 
to  labour  the  Ground  with  the  Foot-Spade,  a 
Fatigue  they  had  never  been  accuftom'd  to ; 
and  that  Year's  Produd  of  Corn  was  the  moft 
plentiful  that  they  had  for  many  Years  before. 
After  the  Steward's  Arrival  in  the  Ifle,  about 
the  end  of  Maj,  he  fent  his  Galley  to  bring  home 
all  the  Men  confin'd  in  the  Ifle,  to  their  fo  much 
long'd  for  St.  Kjlda  ;  where  the  mutual  Joy  be- 
tween them  and  their  Wives,  and  other  Rela- 
tions, was  extraordinary. 

THE 


Wejlern  IJlands  of  Scotland.     2  87 

THE  Inhabitants  are  of  the  RefornnM  Re- 
ligion ;  they  aflemble  in  the  Church-yard  on 
the  Lord's  Day,  and  in  the  Morning  they  fay 
the  Lord's  Prayer,  Creed,  and  Ten  Command- 
ments :  They  work  at  no  Imployment  till  Mon- 
day, neither  will  they  allow  a  Stranger  to  work 
fooner.  The  Officer,  or  Steward's  Deputy 
commonly,  and  fometimes  any  of  their  Neigh- 
bours, baptize  their  Children  foon  after  they  are 
born  ;  and  in  the  following  Form  :  J.I.I  bap- 
tize you  to  your  Father  and  Mother,  in  the 
Name  of  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghoft. 
They  marry  early  and  publickly,  all  the  Na- 
tives of  both  Sexes  being  prefent ;  the  Officer 
who  performs  the  Marriage  tenders  a  Crucifix 
to  the  married  Couple,  who  lay  their  right 
Hands  on  it,  and  then  the  Marriage  is  ra- 
tified. 

THEY  obferve  the  Feftivals  di  Qhrifimas^ 
Eafier,  Good-Friday,  and  that  of  JU-Sams ;  up- 
on the  latter  they  bake  a  large  Cake,  in  form  of 
a  Triangle,  furrow'd  round,  and  it  muft  be  all 
eaten  that  Night.  They  are  hofpitable,  and 
charitable  to  Strangers,  as  well  as  the  Poor 
belonging  to  themfelves,  for  whom  all  the  Fa- 
milies contribute  a  Proportion  monthly,  and  at 
every  Feftival  each  Family  fends  them  a  piece 
of  Mutton  or  Beef. 

THEY 


288     J^  Description  of  th 

THEY  fwear  decifive  Oaths  by  the  Cru- 
ciFx,  and  this  puts  an  end  to  any  Controverfy ; 
for  there  is  not  one  Inftance,  or  the  leaft  Suf- 
picion  of  Perjury  among  them.  The  Crucifix 
is  of  Brafs,  and  about  nine  Inches  in  length ; 
it  lies  upon  the  Altar,  but  they  pay  no  reli- 
gious Worfhip  to  it.  One  of  the  Inhabitants 
was  fo  fincere,  that  (rather  than  forfwear  him- 
felf  on  the  Crucifix)  he  confefs'd  a  Capital 
Crime  before  the  Minifter,  and  my  {^\^.  They 
never  fwear,  or  fteal,  neither  do  they  take 
God's  Name  in  vain  at  any  time  ;  they  are 
free  from  Whoredom  and  Adultery,  and  of 
thofe  other  Immoralities  that  abound  fo  much 
every  where  elfe. 

ONE  of  the  Inhabitants  calPd  Roderick^  a 
Fellow  that  could  not  read,  obtruded  a  falfe 
Religion  upon  the  credulous  People,  which  he 
pretended  to  have  receivM  from  St.  John  the 
Baptift.  It  is  remarkable,  that  in  his  Rhapfo- 
dies,  which  he  cali'd  Prayers,  he  had  the  word 
Eli ;  and  to  this  pujpofe,  Eli  is  our  Preferver. 
There  is  a  little  Hill,  upon  which  he  fays  "John 
the  Baptift  delivered  Sermons  and  Prayers  to 
him;  this  he  cali'd  Jo/;;?'s-B«/Z',  and  made  the 
People  believe  it  was  fo  Sacred,  that  if  either 
Cow  or  Sheep  did  tafl:e  of  its  Grafs,  they  were 
to  be  kill'd  immediately  after,  and  the  Owners 
were  to  eat  them,  but  never  without  the  Com- 
pany of  the  Impoftor.     He  made  them  likewife 

believe 


Wejiem  Iflands  of  Scotland      2  89 

believe  that  each  of  them  had  a  Tutelar  Sainc 
in  Heaven  to  intercede  for  them,  and  the  An- 
niverfary  of  every  one  of  thofe  was  to  be  ne- 
ceiTarily  obferv'd,  by  having  a  fplendid  Treat, 
at  which  the  Impoftor  was  always  the  principal 
Perfon.  He  taught  the  Women  a  Devout 
Hymn,  which  he  faid  he  had  from  the  Virgin 
Miiry ;  he  made  them  believe  that  it  fecur'd 
any  Woman  from  Mifcarriage  that  could  repeat 
it  by  heart,  and  each  of  them  paid  thelmpoftor 
a  Sheep  for  it. 

UPON  Mr.  CamphePs  arrival  and  mine  in 
<S/.  fOida,  Roderick  made  a  publick  Recantation 
of  his  Impofture ;  and  being  then  by  us  brought 
to  the  Ifle  of  Harries^  and  afterwards  to  the 
Ifle  of  Skie,  he  has  made  publick  ConfefTion  in 
feveral  Churches  of  his  Converfe  with  the  De« 
vil,  and  not  Johff  the  Baptift,  as  he  pretended, 
and  feems  to  be  very  penitent.  He  is  now  in 
Skie  Ifle,  from  whence  he  is  never  to  return  to 
his  Native  Country.  His  Neighbours  are 
heartily  glad  to  be  rid  of  fuch  a  Villain,  and 
are  now  happily  delivered  from  the  Errors  he 
impofed  upon  them.  The  Ifle  is  the  Laird  of 
Mack-Leod^s  Property,  he  is  Head  of  one  of 
the  moft  antient  Tribes  in  the  Ifles ;  he  befl:ows 
the  Ifle  upon  a  Cadet  of  his  Name,  whofe 
Fortune  is  low,  to  maintain  his  Family,  and 
he  is  called  Steward  of  it :  he  vifits  the  Ifle 
once  every  Summer,  to  demand  the  Rents,  vtz> 
Down,  Wool,'  Butter,  Checfe,  Cows,  Horfes, 
T  Fowl, 


290     ^Description  of  the 

Fowl,   Oil,  and  Barley.     The   Steward's  De- 
puty  is  one  of  the  Natives,  and  ftays  always 
upon  the  place;   he  has  free  Lands,    and  an 
Omer  of  Barley  from  each  Family  ;  and  has  the 
honour  of  being  the  firft  and  laft  in  their  Boat, 
as  they  go  and  come  to  the  lefler  Ifles  or  Rocks. 
The  antient  meafure  of  Omer  and  Cubit  con- 
tinues to  be  us'd  in  this  Ifle.     They  have  nei- 
ther Gold  nor  Silver,  but  barter  among  them- 
felves  and  the  Steward's  Men  for  what  they 
want.     Some  years  ago  the  Steward  determin'd 
to  exaft  a  Sheep  from  every  Family  in  the  Ifle, 
the  number  amounting  to  twenty  feven ;  and 
for  this  he  put  them  in  mind  of  a  late  Precedent, 
of  their  having  given  the  like  number  to  his  Pre- 
decefTor.     But  they  anfwer'd,  that  what  they 
gave  then,  was  voluntary,  and  upon  an  extra- 
ordinary occafion  of  his  being  Wind-bound  in 
the  Ifle,  and  that  this  was  not  to  be  a  Cufl:om 
afterwards.     However   the  Steward    fent   his 
Brother,  and  with  him  a  competent  number  of 
Men,  to  take  the  Sheep  from  them  by  force  ;  but 
the  Natives  arming  themfelves  with  their  Dag< 
gers  and  Fifhing-Rods,  attack'd  the  Steward's 
Brother,  giving  him  fome  blows  on  the  head, 
and  forc'd  him  and  his  Party  to  retire,    and 
told  him  that  they  would  pay  no  new  Taxes: 
and  by  this  fl:out  refiftance,  they  preferv'd  their 
Freedom  from  fuch  Impofition. 

THE  Inhabitants  live  contentedly  together 
in  a   little  Village  on  the  Eaft-fide  St.  Kjlda, 

which 


Weft  em  Iflands  of  Scotland.     291 

which  they  commonly  call  the  Country;  and 
the  Ifle  Borreray^  which  is  little  more  than  two 
Leagues  dirtant  from  them,  they  call  tbe  Nor- 
thern Country.  The  diftance  between  their 
Houfes  is  by  them  called  the  High-ftreet:  their 
Houfes  are  low  built,  of  Stone,  and  a  Cement  of 
dry  Earth ;  they  have  Couples  and  Ribs  of 
Wood  cover'd  with  thin  earthen  Turff,  thatch'd 
over  theie  with  Straw,  and  the  RooFfecur'd  on 
each  fide  with  double  ropes  of  Straw  or  Heath, 
pois'd  at  the  end  with  many  Stones :  their  Beds 
are  commonly  made  in  the  Wall  of  their  Hou- 
fes, and  they  lie  on  Straw,  but  never  on  Fea- 
thers or  Down,  tho  they  have  them  in  greater 
plenty  than  all  the  Weftern  Ifles  befides.  The 
Reafon  for  making  their  Bed-room  in  the  Walls 
of  their  Houfes,  is  to  make  room  for  their  Cows, 
which  they  take  in  during  the  Winter  and 
Spring. 

THEY  are  very  exaO:  in  their  Properties, 
and  divide  both  the  Fifhing  as  well  as  Fowling 
Rocks  with  as  great  nicenefs  as  they  do  their 
Corn  and  Grafs ;  one  will  not  allow  his  Neigh- 
bour to  fit  and  fifh  on  his  Sear,  for  this  being 
a  part  of  his  PoflTeffion,  he  will  take  care  that 
no  encroachment  be  made  upon  the  leaft  part 
of  it :  and  this  with  a  particular  regard  ro  their 
Succeffors,  that  they  may  lofe  no  privilege  de- 
pending upon  any  parcel  of  their  Farm.  They 
have  but  one  Boat  in  the  Ifle,  and  every  Man 
hath  a  (hare  in  it,  proportionably  to  the  Acres 
T  2  of 


ip  2      J   D  E  S  C  R  I  P  T  I  O  N    0/  fk 

of  Ground  for  which  they  pay  Rent.  They  are 
ftout  Rowers,  and  will  tug  at  the  Oar  for  a 
long  time,  without  any  intermiffion.  When 
they  fail,  they  ufe  no  Compafs,  but  take  their 
meafures  from  the  Sun,  Moon,  or  Stars;  and 
they  rely  much  on  the  courfe  of  the  various 
Flocks  of  Sea- Fowl :  and  this  laft  is  their  fureft 
DireQ:ory.  When  they  go  to  the  lelTer  Ifles 
and  Rocks  to  bring  home  Sheep,  or  any  other 
Purchafe,  they  carry  an  Iron  Pot  with  them, 
and  each  Family  furnifhes  one  by  turns  ;  and 
the  Owner  on  fuch  Occafions  has  a  fmall  Tax 
paid  him  by  all  the  Families  in  the  Ifle,  which 
IS  by  them  call'd  the  Pot- penny. 

THERE  was  another  Tax  paid  by  each 
Family  to  one  of  the  Natives,  as  often  as  they 
kindled  a  Fire  in  any  of  the  leller  Iflcs  or  Rocks, 
and  that  for  the  ufe  of  his  Steel  and  Flint;  and 
this  was  by  them  calPd  the  Fire-penny. 

THIS  Tax  was  very  advantageous  to  the 
Proprietor,  but  very  uneafy  to  the  Common- 
wealth, who  could  not  be  furnifli'd  with  Fire 
on  thefe  Occafions  any  other  way.  But  I 
^told  them  that  the  Chryftal  growing  in  the 
Rock  on  the  (hore  would  yield  Fire,  if  ftruck 
with  the  back  of  a  Knife,  and  of  this  I  fhew'd 
them  an  Experiment ;  which  when  they  faw, 
was  a  very  furprizing,  and  to  them  a  profita- 
ble Difcovery  in  their  efteem,  being  fuch  as 
could  be  had  by  every  Man  in  the  Ifle ;  and  at 

the 


Wejiern  JJlands  of  Scotland.        293 

the  fame  time  deliver'd  them  from  an  endlefs 
Charge :  but  it  was  very  difobliging  to  the  poor 
Man  who  loft  his  Tax  by  it. 

THE  Inhabitants  of  St.  Kj/da  excel  all 
thofe  I  ever  faw  in  climbing  Rocks :  they  told 
me  that  fome  years  ago  their  Boat  was  fplit 
to  pieces  upon  the  Weft  fide  of  Borrera  Ifle, 
and  they  were  forc'd  to  lay  hold  on  a  bare  Rock, 
which  was  fteep,  and  above  twenty  Fathom 
high;  notwithftanding  this  difficulty,  fome  of 
them  climb'd  up  to  the  top,  and  from  thence 
let  down  a  Rope  and  Plads,  and  fo  drew  up 
all  the  Boats  Crew,  tho  the  climbing  this  Rock 
would  feem  impoffible  to  any  other  except 
themfelveso 

THIS  little  Comraonwealthhath  two  Ropes 
of  about  twenty  four  Fathoms  length  each, 
for  climbing  the  Rocks,  which  they  do  by 
turns;  the  Ropes  are  fecur'd  all  round  with 
Cows  Hides  falted  for  the  ufe,  and  which  pre- 
ferves  them  from  being  cut  by  the  edge  of  the 
Rocks.  By  the  afliftance  of  thefe  Ropes  they 
purchafe  a  great  number  of  Eggs  and  Fowl ;  I 
have  feen  them  bring  home  in  a  Morning  twenty 
nine  large  Baskets  all  full  of  Eggs ;  the  leaft  of 
the  Baskets  contained  four  hundred  big  Eggs, 
and  the  reft  eight  hundred  and  above  of  lelTer 
Eggs.  They  had  with  them  at  the  fame  time 
about  two  thoufand  Sea-Fowl,  and  fome  Fifh, 
together  with  fome  Limpets,  caird  PatelU, 
T  I  the 


294     ^Description  of  the 

the  biggeft  I  ever  faw.  They  catch  many 
Fowls  likewife,  by  laying  their  Gins,  which 
are  made  of  Horfe-hair,  having  a  Noofe  at  the 
diftance  of  two  Foot  each ;  the  ends  of  the 
Rope  at  which  the  Noofe  hangs,  are  fccur'd  by 
Stone. 

THE  Natives  gave  me  an  account  of  a  very 
extraordinary  Rifqiie  which  one  of  them  ran  as 
laying  his  Gins,  which  ^as  thus :  As  he  was 
walking  barefoot  along  the  Rock  where  he  had 
fixed  his  Gin,  he  happenM  to  put  his  Toe  in  a 
Noofe,  and  immediately  fell  down  the  Rock, 
but  hung  by  the  Toe,  the  Gin  being  ftrong 
enough  to  hold  him,  and  the  Stones  that  fecur'd 
it  on  each  end  being  heavy :  the  poor  JVIan 
continued  hangmg  thus  for  the  fpace  of  a  Night 
on  a  Rock  twenty  Fathom  height  above  the 
Sea,  until  one  of  his  Neighbours  hearing  him 
cry,  came  to  his  refcue,  drew  him  up  by  the 
Feet,  and  fo  fav'd  him. 

THESE  poor  People  do  fometimes  fall 
down  as  they  climb  the  Rocks,  and  perifli : 
Their  Wives  on  fuch  occafions  make  doleful 
Songs,  which  they  call  Lamentations.  The 
chief  Topicks  are  their  Courage,  their  Dexte- 
rity in  Climbing,  and  their  great  Affedion 
which  they  fhew'd  to  their  Wives  and  Chil- 
dren. 


IT 


Wejlern  IJlainls  of  Scotland.     295 

I T  is  ordinary  with  a  Fowler,  after  he  has 
got  his  Purchafe  of  Fowls,  to  pluck  the  fatteft, 
and  carry  it  home  to  his  Wife  as  a  mark  of  his 
AfFe£tion  ;  and  this  is  called  the  Rock^FowI. 

THE  Batchelors  do  in  like  manner  carry 
this  Rock-Fowl  to  their  Sweet-hearts,  and  it  is 
the  greateft  Prefent  they  can  make,  confidering 
the  danger  they  run  in  acquiring  it. 

THE  richeft  Man  in  the  Ifle  has  not  above 
eight  Cows,  eighty  Sheep,  and  two  or  three 
Horfes.  If  a  Native  here  have  but  a  few 
Cattle,  he  will  marry  a  Woman,  tho  fhe  have 
no  other  Portion  from  her  Friends  but  a  Pound 
of  Horfe-hair,  to  make  a  Gin  to  catch  Fowls. 

THE  Horfes  here  are  very  low  of  ftature, 
and  employ'd  only  to  carry  home  their  Peats 
and  Turff,  which  is  their  Fuel.  The  Inhabi- 
tants ride  their  Horfes  (which  were  but  eighteen 
in  all)  at  the  Anniverfary  Cavalcade  of  All- 
Saints  :  this  they  never  fail  to  obferve.  They 
begin  at  the  fhore,  and  ride  as  far  as  the  Hou- 
fes;  they  ufe  no  Saddles  of  any  kind,  nor 
Bridle,  except  a  Rope  of  Straw  which  manages 
the  Horfe's  head :  and  when  they  have  all  ta- 
ken the  Horfes  by  turns,  the  Show  is  over  lor 
that  time, 

T4  THIS 


tp6    ^  Description  o/tk 

THI S  ](\2  produces  the  fineft  Hawks  in  the 
Wefte'^n  iflss,  for  they  go  many  Leagues  for 
their  Prey,  there  being  no  Land  Fowl  in  5/. 
KJlda  proper  for  them  to  ear,  except  Pigeons 
and  Plovers. 

O  N  E  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Sf,  Kjlda,  being 
fome  time  ago  wind-bound  in  the  Ifle  of  HaY" 
ries,  was  prevail'd  on  by  fome  of  them  that 
traded  to  GUfcow  to  go  thither  with  them.  He 
was  a^onifti'd  at  the  length  of  the  Voyage,  and 
of  the  great  Kingdoms,  as  he  thought  'em,  that 
is  Ifles,  by  which  they  fail'd  ;  thel'4rgeft  in  his 
way  did  not  exceed  twenty  four  Miles  in  length, 
but  he  confider'd  how  xv^ch  they  exceeded  his 
own  little  Native  Country, 

UPON  his  Arrival  at  GUfcow^  he  was  like 
one  that  had  dropt  from  the  Clouds  into  a  new 
World  ;  whofe  Language,  Habit,  &c.  were  in 
all  refpe8:s  new  to  him  ;  he  never  imagin'd 
that  fuch  big  Houfes  of  Stone  were  made  wi  h 
hands  and  for  the  Pavements  of  the  Streets, 
he  thought  it  mud:  needs  be  altogether  Natural ; 
for  he  could  not  believe  that  Men  woyld  be  at 
the  pains  to  beat  ftones  into  ^he  ground  to 
walk  upon.  He  ftood  dumb  at  the  door  of 
his  Lodging  with  the  greatefl;  admiration  ;  and 
when  he  faw  a  Coach  and  two  Horfes,  he 
thought  it  to  be  a  little  Houfe  they  were 
drawing  as;  their  Tail;  with  Men  in  it ;  but  he 

condemned 


Wejlern  Ijlands  of  Scotland.     297 

cohdemn'd  the  Coach-man  for  a  Fool  to  fit  fo 
uneafy,  for  lie  thought  it  fafer  to  fit  on  the 
hotfes  back.  The  Mechanifm  of  the  Coach- 
Wheel,  and  its  running  about,  wfts  thegreateft 
of  all  his  Wonders. 

WHEN  he  went  through  the  Streets,  he 
defiled  to  have  one  to  lead  him  by  the  hand. 
Thomas  Rofs  a  Merchant,  and  others,  that  took 
the  diverfion  to  carry  him  through  the  Town, 
ask'd  his  Opinion  of  the  high  Church  ?  He 
anfwer'd,  that  it  was  a  large  Rock,  yet  there 
Vere  fome  in  St.  IQlda,  much  higher,  but  that 
thefe  were  the  beft  Caves  he  ever  faw;  for 
that  was  the  Idea  which  he  conceiv'd  of  the 
pillars  and  Arches  upon  which  the  Church 
ftands.  When  they  carried  him  into  the 
Church,  he  was  yet  more  furpriz'd,  and  held 
up  his  hands  with  admiration,  wondring  how 
it  was  pofflble  for  Men  to  build  fuch  a  prodi- 
gious Fabrick,  which  he  fuppos'd  to  be  the 
largefl:  in  the  Univerfe.  He  could  not  imagine 
what  the  Pews  were  defignM  for,  and  he  fan- 
cied the  People  that  wore  Masks  (not  knowing 
whether  t-hey  were  Men  or  Women)  had  been 
guilty  of  fome  ill  thing,  for  which  they  dar'd 
not  lliew  their  Faces.  He  was  amazed  at  Wo- 
mens  wearing  Patches,  and  fancied  them  to 
have  been  Blifters.  Pendants  feem'd  to  him  the 
moft  ridiculous  of  all  things ;  he  condemn'd 
Perriwigs  mightily,  and  much  more  the  Pow- 
der u§'d  in  them :   in  fine,  lie  condemn'd  all 

things 


ipS     J  Description  of  the 

things  as  fuperfluous,  he  faw  not  in  his  own 
Country.      He    look'd    with    amazement  on 
every  thing  that  was  new  to  him.     When  he 
heard  the  Ch»rch» Bells  ring,   he  was  under  a 
mighty  Confternation,  as  if  the  Fabrick  of  the 
World  had  been  in  great  diforder.     He  did  not 
think  there  had  been  fo  many  People  in  the 
World,  as  in  the  City  of  GUfcow  ;  and  it  was  a 
great  Myftery  to  him  to  think  what  they  could 
all  defign  by  living  fo  many  in  one  place.     He 
wondred  how  they  could  all  be  furnifh'd  with 
Provifion ;   and  when  he  faw  big  Loaves,  he 
could  not  tell  whether  they  were  Bread,  Stone, 
or  Wood.     He  was  amazM  to  think  how  they 
could  be  provided  with  Ale,  for  he  never  faw 
any    there   that  drank  Water.     He  wondred 
how  they  made  them  fine  Clothes,  and  to  fee 
Stockings  made  without  being  firft  cur,    and 
afterwards    fewn.    was    no  fmall  wonder   to 
him.     He   thought   it   foolifh   in  Women  to 
wear  thin  Silks,  as  being  a  very  improper  habit 
for  fuch  as  pretended  to  any  fort  of  Employ- 
ment.    When  he  faw  the  Womens  Feet,    he 
judged  them  to  be  of  another  fliape  than  thofe 
of  the  Men,  becaufe  of  the  different  fhape  of 
their  Shoes.     He  did  not  approve  of  the  heels 
of  Shoes  worn  by  Men  or  \Vomen  ;  and  when 
he  obferv'd  Horfes  with  flioes  on  their  Feet, 
and  faftned  with  Iron  Nails,  he  could  not  for- 
bear laughing,  and  thought  it  the  moft  ridicu- 
lous thing  that  ever  fell  under  his  Obfervation. 
He  long'd  to  fee  his  Native  Country  again, 

and 


IVeftern  Iflands  of  Scotland.      299 

and  paffionately  wifh'd  it  were  bleffed  with 
Ale,  Brandy,  Tobacco  and  Iron,  as  Glafcow 
was. 

there's  a  Couple  of  large  Eagles  who 
have  their  Neft  on  the  North  end  of  the  Ifle  ; 
the  Inhabitants  told  me  that  they  commonly 
make  their  Purchafe  in  the  adjacent  Ifles  and 
Continent,  and  never  take  fo  much  as  a  Lamb 
or  hen  from  the  Place  of  their  Abode,  where 
they  propagate  their  kind.  I  forgot  to  give  an 
account  of  a  fingular  Providence  that  happen'd 
to  a  Native  in  the  Ifle  of  She,  called  Neil^ 
who  when  an  Infant  was  left  by  his  Mother 
in  the  Field,  not  far  from  the  Houfes  on  the 
North  fide  Loch-Portrie ;  an  Eagle  came  in  the 
mean  time,  and  carried  him  away  in  its  Talons 
as  far  as  the  South  fide  of  the  Loch,  and  there 
laying  him  on  the  ground,  fome  People  that 
were  herding  Sheep  there  perceiv'd  it,  and 
hearing  the  Infant  cry,  ran  immediately  to  its 
refcue;  and  by  good  Providence  found  him 
untouch'd  by  the  Eagle,  and  carried  him  home 
to  his  Mother.  He  is  ftill  living  in  that  Pa- 
rifh,  and  by  reafon  of  this  Accident,  is  diftin- 
guilh'd  among  his  Neighbours  by  the  Sirname 
of  Eagle. 


An 


3Po     A  Description  o/t/;^ 

An  Account  of  the  Second-Sight,  in  Irifh 
calfd  Taifli. 

TH  E  SeconA-Sight  is  a  fingular  Faculty  of 
Seeing  an  otherwife  invifible  Obje£l, 
without  any  previous  Means  us'd  by  the  Per- 
fon  that  fees  it  for  that  end  ;  the  Vifion  makes 
fuch  a  lively  imprefifion  upon  the  Seers,  that 
they  neither  fee  nor  think  of  any  thing  elfe, 
except  the  Vifion,  as  long  as  it  continues :  and 
then  they  appear  penfive  or  jovial,  accord- 
ing to  the  Objeft  which  was  reprefented  to 
them. 

AT  the  fight  of  a  Vifion,  the  Eye-lids  of  the 
Perfon  are  ereded,  and  the  Eyes  continue  fla- 
ring until  theObjefl  vanifh.  This  is  obvious 
to  others  who  are  by,  when  the  Perfons  hap- 
pen to  fee  a  Vifion,  and  occur'd  more  than  once 
to  my  own  Obfervation,  and  to  others  that 
were  with  me. 

THERE  is  one  in  Skie^  of  whom  his  Ac- 
quaintance obferved,  that  when  he  fees  a  Vi- 
fion, the  inner  part  ot  his  Eye-lids  turn  fo  far 
upwards,  that  after  the  Objeft  difappears,  he 
muft  draw  them  down  with  his  Fingers,  and 
fometimes  employs  others  to  draw  them  down, 
which  he  finds  to  be  the  much  eafier  way. 

THIS 


Wefiern  JJlands  of  Scotland.     301 

THIS  Faculty  of  the  Second-Sight  does  not 
lineally  defcend  in  a  Family,  as  fome  imagine, 
for  I  know  feveral  Parents  who  are  endowed 
with  it,  but  their  Children  not,  &  vice  verfa: 
Neither  is  it  acquired  by  any  previous  Compaft; 
And  after  a  ftrid  Enquiry,  I  could  never  learn 
from  any  among  them,  that  this  Faculty  was 
communicable  any  way  whatfoever. 

THE  Seer  knows  neither  the  Objed,  Time 
nor  Place  of  a  Vifion,  before  it  appears ;  and 
the  fame  Objedl  is  often  feen  by  different  Per- 
fons,  living  at  acoafiderable  diftance  from  one 
another.  The  true  way  of  judging  as  to  the 
Time  and  Circumftance  of  an  ObjeO,  is  by  ob- 
fervation  ;  for  feveral  Perfons  of  Judgment, 
without  this  Faculty,  are  more  capable  to  judg 
of  the  defign  of  a  Vifion,  than  a  Novice  that 
is  a  Seer.  If  an  ObieQ:  appear  in  the  Day  or 
Night,  it  will  come  to  pafs  fooner  or  later  ac- 
cordingly. 

IF  an  ObjeQ:  is  feen  early  in  a  Morning 
(which  is  not  frequent)  it  will  be  accomplifh'd 
in  a  few  hours  afterwards.  If  at  Noon,  it  will 
commonly  be  accomp'ifh'd  that  very  day.  If 
in  the  Evening,  perhaps  that  Night ;  if  after 
Candles  be  lighted,  it  will  be  accomplifh'd  that 
Night :  the  latter  always  in  accomplilhment, 
by  Weeks,  Months,  and  fometimes  Years,  ac- 
cording 


502     ^  Description  o/f/?^ 

cording  to  the  time  of  Night   the  Vifion  is 
feen. 

WHEN  a  Shroud  is  perceivM  about  one,  it 
is  a  fure  Prognoftick  of  Death :  The  time  is 
judged  according  to  the  height  of  it  about  the 
Perfon  ;  for  if  it  is  not  feen  above  the  middle, 
Death  is  not  to  be  expected  for  the  fpace  of  a 
year,  and  perhaps  fome  Morths  longer ;  and 
as  it  is  frequently  feen  to  afcend  higher  towards 
the  head.  Death  is  concluded  to  be  at  hand 
within  a  few  days,  if  not  hqurs,  as  daily  expe- 
rience confirms.  Examples  of  this  kind  were 
ihewn  me,  when  the  Perfons  of  whom  the  ob- 
fervations  then  made  enjoy'd  perfe£l  Health. 

ONE  Inftance  was  lately  foretold  by  a  Seer 
that  was  a  Novice,  concerning  the  death  of  one 
of  my  Acquaintance ;  thi$  was  communicated 
to  a  few  only,  and  with  great  confidence:  I 
being  one  of  the  number,  did  not  in  the  leaft 
regard  it,  until  the  death  of  the  Perfon  about 
the  time  foretold,  did  confirm  me  of  the  cer- 
tainty of  the  PrediQion.  The  Novice  men- 
tion'd  above,  is  now  a  skilful  Seer,  as  appears 
from  many  late  inft^nces;'  he  lives  in  the  Parifh 
of  St.  Marfs^  the  moft  Nprthern  in  Skie, 
i 

I F  a  Wom.an  is  feca  ^anding  at  a  Man's  left 
band,  it  is  a  prefage  thaj  fbe  will  be  his  Wife, 
whether  they  be  iTiarrieA  toothers,  or  unmar- 
ried at  the  time  of  the  Apparition. 

IF 


Wejleni  IJlands  of  Scotland.     30 j 

I  F  two  or  three  Women  are  feen  at  once 
ftanding  near  a  Man's  left  hand,  fhe  that  is 
next  him  will  undoubtedly  be  his  Wife  firft, 
and  fo  on,  whether  all  three,  or  the  Man  be 
fingle  or  married  at  the  time  of  the  Vifion  or 
not ;  of  which  there  are  feveral  late  Inftances 
among  thofe  of  my  Acquaintance.  It  is  an 
ordinary  thing  for  them  to  fee  a  Man  that  is 
to  come  to  the  Houfe  Ihortly  after ;  and  if  he 
is  not  of  the  Seer's  Acquaintance,  yet  he  gives 
fuch  a  lively  defcription  of  his  Stature,  Com- 
plexion, Habir,  &c.  that  upon  his  Arrival  he 
anfwers  the  Chara£ler  given  him  in  all  re- 
fpefts. 

I F  the  PerfoH  fo  appearing  be  one  of  the 
Seer's  Acquaintance,  he  will  tell  his  Name,  as 
well  as  other  Particulars ;  and  he  can  tell  by 
his  Countenance  whether  he  comes  in  a  good 
or  bad  humour. 

I  H  A  VE  been  feen  thus  my  felf  by  Seers  of 
both  Sexes  at  fome  hundred  miles  diftance; 
fome  that  faw  me  in  this  manner,  had  never 
feen  me  perfonally,  and  it  happened  according 
to  their  ViHons,  without  any  previous  defign 
of  mine  to  go  to  thofe  Places,  my  coming  there 
being  purely  accidental. 

I  T  is  ordinary  with  them  to  fee  Houfes, 
Gardens  and  Trees,  in  Places  void  of  all  three  ; 

and 


304     ^Description  of  the 

and  this  in  procefs  of  time  ufes  to  be  accom- 
pliflied  :  as  at  Mogftot  in  the  Ifle  o^Skie,  where 
there  were  but  a  few  forry  Co w-houfes  thatched 
with  Straw,  yet  in  a  few  years  after,  the  Vi- 
fion  which  appear'd  often  was  accomplifliM, 
by  the  building  of  fcveral  good  Houfes  on  the 
very  fpot  reprefented  to  the  Seers,  and  by  the 
planting  of  Orchards   there. 

TO  fee  a  fpark  of  fire  fall  upon  one's  Arm 
or  Breaft,  is  a  forerunner  of  a  dead  Child  to 
be  feen  in  the  arms  of  thofe  Perfons  5  of  which 
there  are  feveral  frefh  Inftances,    ' 

T  O  fee  a  Seat  empty  at  the  time  of  one's 
fitting  in  it,  is  a  prefage  of  that  Perfon's  death 
quickly  after. 

W  H  E  N  a  Novice,  or  one  that  has  lately 
obtain'd  the  Second  Sight,  fees  a  Vifion  in  the 
Nighttime  without  doors,  and  comes  near  a 
fire,  he  prefently  falls  into  a  fwoon. 

SOME  find  themfelves  as  it  were  in  a  croud 
of  People,  having  a  Corps  which  they  carry 
along  with  them ;  and  after  fuch  Vifions  the 
Seers  come  in  fweating,  and  defcribe  the  Peo- 
ple that  appeared  :  if  there  be  any  of  their  Ac- 
quaintance among  'em,  they  give  an  account  of 
their  Names,  as  alfo  of  the  Bearers,  but  they 
know  nothing  concerning  the  Corps. 

ALL 


Wejlem  IJlands  of  Scothnd,     30 j 

ALL  thofe  who  have  the  Second  Sight  do 
not  always  fee  thefe  Vifions  at  once,  thothey 
be  together  at  the  tioie.  But  if  one  who  has 
this  Faculty,  defignedly  touch  his  Fellow-Seer 
at  the  inftant  of  a  Vifion's  appearing,  then  the 
fecond  fees  it  as  well  as  the  firft ;  and  this  is 
fometimes  difcern'd  by  thofe  that  are  near  them 
on  fuch  occafions. 

THERE  is  a  way  of  foretelling  Death  by  a 
Cry  that  they  call  Tahk,  which  fome  call  a 
PVrath  in  the  Low-land. 

THEY  hear  a  loud  Cry  without  doors,  ex- 
actly refembling  the  Voice  of  fome  particular 
Perfon,  whofe  death  is  foretold  by  it.  The 
laft  inftance  given  me  of  this  kind  was  in  the 
Village  K/gg,  in  the  Ifle  of  Skie. 

FIVE  Women  were  fitting  together  in  the 
fame  Room,  and  all  of  them  heard  a  loud  Cry 
pafling  by  the  Window  ;  they  thought  it  plainy 
to  be  the  Voice  of  a  Maid  who  was  one  of  the 
Number :  fhe  blufhed  at  the  time,  tho  not  fen- 
fible  of  her  fo  doing,  contraded  a  Fever  next 
day,  and  died  that  Week. 

THINGS    alfo  are  foretold   by  Smellingy 
fometimes  as  follows.     Fifh    or  Flefh  is  fre- 
quently Tmelled  in  a  Fire,  when  at  the  fame 
time  neither  of  the  two  are  in  the  Houfe,  or 
U  in 


|o^    A  Description  of  the 

in  any  probability  like  to  be  had  in  it  for  feme 
Weeks  or  Months ;  for  they  feldom  eat  Flefb, 
and  the  the  Sea  be  near  them,  yet  they  catch 
Fifh  but  feldom,  in  the  Winter  and  Spring. 
This  Smell  feveral  Perfons  have,  who  are  not 
endued  with  the  Second  Sight ^  and  it  is  always 
accomplifh'd  foon  after. 

CHILDREN,  Horfes  and  Cows  fee  the 
Second  Sight,  as  well  as  Men  and  Women  ad- 
vanced in  years. 

THAT  Children  fee  it,  is  plain  from  their 
crying  aloud  at  the  very  inftantthat  a  Corps 
or  any  other  Vifion  appears  to  an  ordinary 
Seer.  I  was  prefent  in  a  Houfe  where  a  Child 
cried  out  of  a  fudden,  and  being  ask*d  the  rea- 
fon  of  it,  heanfwer'd  that  he  had  feen  a  great 
white  thing  lying  on  the  Board  which  was  in 
the  Corner :  but  he  was  not  believM,  until  a 
Seer  who  was  prefent  told  them  that  the  Child 
was  in  the  right ;  for,  faid  he,  I  faw  a  Corps 
and  the  Shroud  about  it,  and  the  Board  will 
be  us'd  as  part  of  a  Coffin,  or  fome  way  im- 
ployed  about  a  Corps :  and  accordingly,  it  was 
made  into  a  Coffin,  for  one  who  was  in  per- 
fect health  at  the  time  of  the  Vifion. 

THAT  Horfes  fee  it,  is  likewife  plain  from 
their  violent  and  fudden  ftarting,  wljen  the 
Rider  or  Seer  in  Company  with  him  fees  a  Vi- 
fion   of  any  kind,    night   or   day.     It  is  ob- 

fervable 


Wefiern  IJtands  of  Scotland.     307 

fervable  of  the  Horfe,  that  he  will  not  go  for- 
ward that  way,  until  he  be  led  about  at  fome 
diftance  from  the  common  Road,  and  then  he  is 
in  a  fweat. 

A  HORSE  faflned  by  the  common  Road 
t3n  the  fide  of  Loch-Skermefs  in  Skie^  did  break 
his  Rope  at  Noon-day,  and  run  up  and  down 
without  the  leaft  vifible  caufe.  But  two  of 
the  Neighbourhood  that  happened  to  be  ac  a  lit- 
tle diftance,  and  in  view  of  the  fiorfe,  did 
at  the  fame  time  fee  a  confiderable  number  of 
Men  about  a  Corps,  directing  their  courfe  to 
the  Church  of  Snifort ;  and  this  was  accom- 
plifh'd  within  a  few  days  after,  by  the  Death 
of  a  Gentlewoman  who  lived  thirteen  Miles 
from  that  Church,  and  came  from  another  Pa- 
rifh,  from  whence  very  few  come  to  Snijort  to 
be  buried. 

THAT  Cows  fee  the  5^ffo»i  5/^^  appears 
from  this ;  that  when  a  Woman  is  milking  a 
Cow,  and  then  happens  to  fee  the  Second.  Sight^ 
the  Cow  runs  away  in  a  great  fright  at  the 
fame  time,  and  will  not  be  pacified  for  fome 
time  after. 

BEFORE  I  mention  more  particulars  dif- 
cover'd  by  the  Second  Sight y  it  may  not  be  amifs 
toanfwer  the  Objeftions  that  have  lately  been 
made  againft  the  Reality  of  it. 

U  2  Ohjen, 


5o8     ^Description  of  the 

Ohjeff.  f .  THESE  Seers  are  vifionary  and 
melancholy  People,  and  fancy  they  fee  things 
that  do  not  appear  to  them,  or  any  body 
elfe. 

Mftv.  THE  People  of  thefe  Ifles,  and  par- 
ticularly the  Seers,  are  very  temperate,  and 
their  Diet  is  fimple,  and  moderate,  in  quantity 
and  quality  ;  fo  that  their  Brains  are  not  in  all 
probability  difordered  by  undigefted  Fumes  of 
Meat  or  Drink.  Both  Sexes  are  free  from 
Hyfterick  Fits,  Convulfions,  and  feveral  other 
Diftempers  of  that  fort ;  there's  no  Madmen  a- 
mong  them,  nor  any  inftance  of  Self-murder. 
It  is  obferv'd  among  'em,  that  a  Man  drunk 
never  fees  the  Second  Sight ;  and  he  that  is  a 
Vifionary,  would  difcoverhimfelf  in  other  things 
as  well  as  in  that ;  and  fuch  as  fee  it,  are  not 
judged  ro  be  Vifionaries  by  any  of  their  Friends 
or  Acquaintance. 

Objeci.  2.  THERE  is  none  among  the 
Learned  able  to  oblige  the  World  with  a  fatisfy- 
ing  account  of  thofe  Vifions,  therefore  it  is  not 
to  be  believed. 

Anfr.  I  F  every  thing  for  which  the  Learned 
are  not  able  to  give  a  fatisfying  account  be 
condemn'd  as  impoffible,  we  may  find  many 
other  ihings  generally  believed,  that  muft  be 
f ejected  as  falfe  by  this  Rule.     For  inftance. 

Yawning, 


Weflern  IJlands  of  Scotland.      ^09 

Yawning,  and  its  influence,  and  that  the  Load- 
ftone  attrafts  Iron  ;  and  yet  ihcfe  are  true  as 
well  as  harmlefs,  tho  we  can  give  no  fatisfying 
account  of  their  Caufes.  And  if  we  know  fo 
little  of  natural  Caufes,  how  much  lefs  can  we 
pretend  to  things  that  are  fupernatural  ? 

Ohje^.  J.  THE  Seers  are  Impoftors,  and 
the  People  who  beh'eve  them  are  credulous, 
and  eafily  impofed  upon. 

Jfifv.  THE   Seers  are  generally   illiterate, 
and  well-meaning  People,   and  altogether  void 
of  defign,  nor  could  I  ever  learn  that  any  of 
them   made  the  leaft  gain  by  it,  neither  is  it 
reputable  among  'em  to  have  that  Faculty  :  be- 
fides  the  People  of  the  Ifles  are  not  fo  credu- 
lous as  to  believe  implicitly,  before  the  thing 
foretold  is  accomplifhed ;  but  when  it  adlually 
comes  to   pafs  afterwards,    it    is  not  in  their 
power  to  deny  ir,  without  offering  violence  to 
their  Senfes  and  Reafon.     Befides,  if  the  Seers 
were  Deceivers,  can  it  be  reafonable  to  imagine, 
that  all  the  Iflanders,  who  have  not  the  Second 
Sight ^  fhould  combine  together,  and  offer  vio- 
lence to  their  Underftandings  and  Senfes,    to 
force  themfelves  to  believe  a  Lye  from  Age  to 
Age.     There  are  feveral  Perfons  among  them, 
whofe  Birth  and  Education  raife   them  above 
the  fufpicion  of  concurring  with  an  Import ure, 
merely  to  gratify  an  illiterate  and  contemptible 
fpri:  of  Perfons ;  nor  can  a  reafonable  Man  be- 
U  J  iievQ 


510     ^  Description  o/t/?e 
lieve  that  Children,  Horfes  and  Cows  could  be 
pre-ingaged  in  a  Combination  to  perfuade  the 
World  of  the  Reahty  of  the  Second  Sight, 

SUCH  as  deny  thofe  Vifions,  give  their  af- 
fent  to  ftveral  ftrange  Paflages  in  Hiftory,  upon 
the  Authoritv  aforefaid  of  Hiftorians  that  lived 
feveral  Centuries  before  our  time ;  and  yet  they 
deny  the  People  of  this  Generation  the  liberty 
to  believe  their  intimate  Friends  and  Acquain- 
tance, Men  of  Probity  and  unqueftionable  Re- 
putation, and  of  whofe  Veracity  they  have  grea- 
ter certainty,  than  we  can  have  of  any  antient 
Hiftorian, 

EVERY  Vifion  that  is  feen  comes  exaGly 
to  pafs,  according  to  the  true  Rules  of  Obfer- 
vation,  tho  Novices  and  heedlefs  Perfons  do 
not  always  judg  by  thofe  Rules.  I  re- 
member the  Seers  return'd  me  this  Anfwer 
to  my  ObjeQiou,  and  gave  feveral  Inftan- 
ces  to  that  purpofe,  whereof  the  following  is 
one. 

A  BOY  of  my  Acquaintance  was  often fuN 
priz'd  at  the  fight  of  a  CofBn  clofe  by  his 
Shoulder,  which  put  him  into  a  fright,  and 
made  him  to  believe  it  was  a.  forerunner  of  his 
own  Death,  and  this  his  Neighbours  alfo  judg- 
ed to  be  the  meaning  of  that  Vifion  ;  but  a  Seer 
that  lived  in  the  Village  Kjiockow^  where  the 
Boy  was  then  a  Servant,  told  them  that  they 

werO- 


Weftern  Jflands  of  Scotland.        ^  1 1 

were  under  a  great  miftake,  and  defired  the  Boy 
to  lay  hold  of  the  firft  opportunity  that  offered ; 
and  when  he  went  to  a  Burial,  to  remember  to 
a8:  as  a  Bearer  for  fome  moments  :  and  this  he 
did  accordingly,  within  a  few  days  after,  when 
one  of  his  Acquaintance  died  ;  and  from  that 
time  forward  he  was  never  troubled  with 
feeing  a  Coffin  at  his  Shoulder,  tho  he  has 
feen  many  at  a  diftance,  that  concerned  otherSi 
He  is  now  reckoned  one  of  the  exadeft  Seers 
in  the  Parifh  of  St.  Maries  in  Skie,  where  he 
lives. 

THERE  is  another  inftance  of  a  Woman 
in  Skie^  who  frequently  fawa  Vifion  reprefent- 
ing  a  Woman  having  a  Shroud  about  her  up 
to  the  middle,  but  always  appear'd  with  her 
back  towards  her,  and  the  Habit  in  which  it 
feem'd  to  be  drefsM  refembled  her  own :  this 
was  a  Myftery  for  fome  time,  until  the  Wo- 
man try'd  an  Experiment  to  fatisfy  her  Curio- 
iity,  which  was,  to  drefs  her  felf  contrary  to  the 
ufual  way ;  that  is,  flie  put  that  part  of  her 
Clothes  behind,  which  was  always  before,  fan- 
cying that  the  Vifion  at  the  next  appearing 
would  be  theeafier  dillinguifhed :  and  it  fell  out 
accordingly,  for  the  Vifion  foon  after  prefented 
it  felf  with  its  Face  and  Drefs  looTcing  towards 
the  Woman,  and  it  prov'd  to  refemble  her  felf 
in  all  points,  and  fhe  died  in  a  little  time 
after. 

U  4  THERE 


^pi     ^Description  of  the 

THERE  are  Vifions  feen  by  feveral  Per- 
fons,  in  whofe  days  they  are  not  accomplifhed  ; 
and  this  is  one  of  the  Reafons,  why  fome  things 
have  been  feen  that  are  faid  never  to  come  to 
pa fs,  and  there  are  alfo  feveral  Vifions  feen 
which  are  not  underftood  until  they  be  accom- 
plifhed. 

THE  'Seco'^d  Sight:  is  not  a  late  Difcovery 
feen  by  one  or  two  in  a  Corner,  or  a  remote 
Ifle,  but  it  is  feen  by  many  Perfons  of  both 
Sexes  in  feveral  Ifles,  feparated  above  forty  or 
fifty  Leagues  from  one  another :  the  Inhabitants 
of,  many  of  thefe  Ifles,  never  had  the  lead 
Converie  by  Word  or  Writing  ;  and  this  facul- 
ty of  feeing  Vifions,  having  continued,  as  we  are 
informed  by  Tradition,  ever  fince  the  Planta- 
tion of  thefe  Ifles,  without  being  difproved  by 
the  nicefl:  Sceptick,  after  the  ftriftefl:  enquiry, 
feems  to  be  a  clear  proof  of  its  Reality. 

I  T  is  obfervable,  that  it  was  much  more 
common  twenty  Years  ago  than  at  prefent ;  for 
one  in  ten  do  not  fee  it  now,  that  faw  it  then. 

THE  Second  Sigh  is  not  confined  to  the 
Weflern  Ifles-  alone,  for  I  have  an  account  that 
it  is  likewife  feen  in  feveral  parts  of  Holland, 
but  particularly  in  Bommei,  by  a  Woman,  for 
which  flie  is  courted  by  fome,  and  dreaded  by 
others.     She   fees  a  Smoke  about  one's  Face, 

which 


Weftern  Ipands  of  Scotland.      5  1 3 

which  is  a  forerunner  of  the  Death  of  a  Perfon 
fo  feen ;  and  (he  did  aftually  forerel  the  death 
of  feveral  that  Hved  there :  fhe  was  living  in 
that  Town  this  laft  Winter. 

THE  Corps-candles,  or  Dead-mens  Lights 
in  Wales^  which  are  certain  Prognofticks  of 
Death,  are  well  known  and  attefted. 

THE  Second  Sight  is  iikewife  ktn  m  tfie 
Ifle  of  Man,  as  appears  by  this  Inftance :  Cap- 
tain Leaths,  the  Chief  Magiftrate  of  Belfafi,  in 
his  Voyage  1690,  loft  thirteen  Men  by  a  vio- 
lent Storm,  and  upon  his  landing  in  the  Ifleof 
Man,  an  antient  Man,  Clerk  to  a  Parifh  there, 
told  him  immediately  that  he  had  loft  thirteen 
Men  :  the  Captain  enquiring  how  he  came  to 
the  knowledg  of  that,  heanfwered,  that  it  was 
by  thirteen  Lights  which  he  had  feen  come  into 
the  Church-yard  ;  as  Mr.  Sacheverel  tells  us, 
in  his  late  Defcriptiori  of  the  Ifleof  Man. 

IT  were  ridiculous  to  fuppofe  a  Combina- 
tion between  the  People  of  the  Weftern  llles  of 
Scotland,  Holland,  Wales,  and  the  Ifle  of  Man, 
(ince  they  are  feparated  by  long  Seas,  and  are 
People  of  different  Languages,  Governments, 
and  Interefts:  They  have  no  Correfpondence 
between  them,  and  it  is  probable,  that  thofe  in- 
habiting the  North-Weft  Ifles  have  never  yet 
heard  that  any  fuch  Vifions  are  feen  in  Holland, 
Wales,  or  the  ifle  of  Man. 

FOUR 


314     ^  Description  o/f/^e 

FOUR  Men  of  the  Village  Flodgery'm  She 
being  at  Supper,  one  of  them  did  fuddenly  let 
fall  his  Knife  on  the  Table,  and  looked  with  an 
angry  Countenance:  the  Company  obferving  it, 
enquired  his  Reafon  ;  but  he  return'd  them  no 
anfwer  until  they  had  fupp'd,  and  then  he  told 
them  that  when  he  let  fall  his  Knife,  he  faw  a 
Corps  with  the  .^hroud  about  it  laid  on  the 
Table,  which  furpriz'd  him,  and  that  a  little 
time  would  accoaiplifli  the  Vifion.  It  fell  out  ac- 
cordingly, for  in  a  few  days  after  one  of  the 
Family  died,  and  happened  to  be  laid  on  that 
very  Table.  This  was  told  me  by  the  Matter  of 
the  Family. 

DANIEL  STEWART  an  Inhabitant  of 
Hole  in  the  North-Parifh  of  St.  Maries  in  the  Ifle 
o(  Skie,  faw  at  Noon-day  five  Men  on  Horfe- 
back  riding  Northward  ;  he  ran  to  meet  them, 
and  when  he  came  to  the  Road,  he  could  fee 
none  of  them,  which  was  very  furprizing  to 
him,  and  he  told  it  his  Neighbours :  The  very 
next  day  he  faw  the  fame  number  of  Men  and 
Horfe  coming  along  the  Road,  but  was  not  fo 
ready  to  meet  them  as  before,  until  he  heard 
them  fpeak,  and  then  he  found  them  to  be  thofc 
that  he  had  feen  the  day  before  in  a  Vifion  ;  this 
was  the  only  Vifion  of  the  kind  he  had  ever  feen 
in  his  Life.  The  Company  he  faw  was  Sir  Do- 
nald Mac'Dondd  and  his  Retinue,  who  at  the 

time 


Weftern  Iflands  of  Scotland.  3  i  5- 
time  of  the  Vifion  was  at  Armidil,  near  forty 
Miles  South  from  the  place  where  the  Man  lived.' 

A  W  O  M  A  N  of  StornbAj  in  Lewis  had  a 
Maid  who  faw  Vifions,  and  often  fell  into  a 
Swoon ;  her  Miflrefs  was  very  much  concern'd 
about  her,  but  could  not  find  out  any  means  to 
prevent  her  feeing  thofe  things ;  at  laft  fhe  re- 
foIv*d  to  poui*  fome  of  the  Water  us'd  in  Baptifm 
on  her  Maid^s  Face,  believing  this  would  pre- 
vent her  feeing  any  more  Sights  of  this  kind. 
And  accordingly  {ht  carried  her  Maid  with  her 
next  Lord's  Day,  and  both  of  'em  Tat  near  the 
Bafin  in  which  the  Water  ftood,  and  after  Bap- 
tifm before  the  Minifter  had  concluded  the  laft 
Prayer,  fhe  put  her  hand  in  the  Bafin,  took  up 
as  much  Water  as  fhe  could,  and  threw  it  on 
the  Maid's  Face;  at  which  ft  range  Action  the 
Minifter  and  the  Congregation  were  equally  fur- 
priz'd.  After  Prayer,  the  Minifter  enquir'd  of 
the  Woman  the  meaning  of  fuch  an  unbecoming 
and  diftraQed  Adion  ;  fiie  told  him,  it  was  to 
prevent  her  Maid's  feeing  Vifions :  and  it  fell 
out  accordingly,  for  from  that  time  flie  never 
once  more  faw  a  Vifion  of  any  kind.  This  ac- 
count was  given  me  by  Mr.  Morifon  Minifter 
of  the  Place,  before  feveral  of  his  Parifhioners 
who  knew  the  truth  of  it.  I  fubmit  the  matter 
of  Faft  to  the  Cenfure  of  the  Learned  ;  but  for 
my  own  part,  I  think  it  to  -have  been  one  of  Sa- 
tan's Devices,  to  make  credulous  People  have 
an  efteem  for  Holy  Water, 

JOHN 


31^     A  Description  of  th 

^OHN  MORJSON  o(  Bragir  in  Lewi^, 
a  Perfonof  unqueftionable  Sincerity  and  Reputa- 
tion, told  me,  that  within  a  Mile  of  his  Houfe 
a  Girl  of  twelve  Years  old  was  troubled  at  the 
frequent  fight  of  a  Vifion,  refembling  her  felf  in 
Stature,  Complexion,  Drefs,  &c.  and  feemM 
to  ftand  or  fit,  and  to  be  always  imployed  as  the 
Girl  was ;  this  prov'd  a  great  trouble  to  her: 
her  Parents  being  much  concern'd  about  it,  con- 
fulced  the  faid  John  Morifony  who  enquired  if 
the  Girl  was  intruded  in  the  Principles  of  her 
Religion,  and  finding  fhe  was  not,  he  bid  them 
teach  her  the  Creed,  ten  Commandments,  and 
the  Lord's  Prayer,  and  that  (he  fhould  fay  the 
latter  daily  after  her  Prayers.  Mr.  Morifon  and 
his  Family  join'd  in  Prayer  in  the  Girl's  behalf, 
begging  that  God  of  his  goodnefs  would  be 
pleas'd  to  deliver  her  from  the  trouble  of  fuch  a 
Vifion  :  after  which,  and  the  Girl's  complying 
with  the  advice  as  above,  fhe  never  faw  it  any 
more. 

A  M  A  M  living  three  Miles  to  the  North  of 
the  faid  John  Morifon,-  is  much  haunted  by  a 
Spirit,  appearing  in  all  points  like  to  himfelf; 
and  he  asks  many  impertinent  Queftions  of  the 
Man  when  in  the  Fields,  but  fpeaks  not  a  word 
to  him  at  home,  tho  he  feldom  mifTes  to  appear 
to  him  every  night  in  the  Houfe,  but  to  no  o- 
ther  Perfon.  He  told  this  to  one  of  his  Neigh- 
bours, who  advis'd  him  to  caft  a  live  Coal  at 

the 


Weflern  Ijlands  of  Scotland.      317 

the  face  of  the  Vifion  the  next  time  he  appear'd  : 
the  Man  did  fo  next  night,  and  all  the  Family 
faw  the  Adtion ;  but  the  following  day  the 
fame  Spirit  appear'd  to  him  in  the  Fields,  and 
beat  him  feverely,  fo  as  to  oblige  him  to  keep 
his  Bed  for  the  fpace  of  fourteen  days  after. 
Mr.  Morifon  Minifter  of  the  Parifh,  and  feve- 
ral  of  his  Friends  came  to  fee  the  Man,  and 
join'd  in  Prayer  that  he  might  be  freed  from  this 
trouble,  but  he  was  flill  haunted  by  that  Spirit 
a  year  after  I  left  Lewis, 

A  MAN  m  Kjfockorv,  in  the  Parifh  of  St. 
Maries^  the  Northermoft  in  Skie^  being  in  per- 
feft  health,  and  fitting  with  his  Fellow-Servants 
at  Night,  was  on  a  fudden  taken  ill,  dropt  from 
his  Seat  backward,  and  then  fell  a  vomiting  ;  at 
which  all  the  Family  were  much  concern'd,  he 
having  never  been  fubjed  to  the  like  before : 
but  he  came  to  himfelf  foon  after,  and  had  no 
fort  of  pain  about  him.  One  of  the  Family, 
who  was  accuftomed  to  fee  the  Second  Sight, 
told  them  that  the  Man's  Illnefs  proceeded  from 
a  very  ftrange  Caufe,  which  was  thus :  An  ill- 
natur'd  Woman  (naming  her  by  her  Name) 
who  lives  in  the  next  adjacent  Village  of  LV;?- 
skittag,  came  before  him  in  a  very  furious  and 
angry  manner,  her  Countenance  full  of  PafTion, 
and  her  Mouth  full  of  Reproaches,  and  threat- 
ned  him  with  her  Head  and  Hands,  until  he  fell 
over  as  you  have  feen  him.  This  Woman  had 
a  fancy  for  the  Man,  but  was  like  to  meet 
with  a  difappointment  as  to  his  marrying  her. 

This 


JiS      y^  Description  of  the 

Thislnftance  was  told  me  by  theMafterof  the 
Family,  and  others  who  were  prefent  when  it 
happened. 

ONE  that  liv'd  in  St.  Maries  on  the  Weft 
fide  of  the  Ifle  of  Skie^  told  Mr.  Mack-Pherfin 
the  Minifier,  and  others,  that  he  faw  a  Vifion 
of  a  Corps  coming  towards  the  Church,   not 
by  the  common  Road,  but  by  a  more  rugged 
Way,  which  rendcr'd  the  thing  incredible,  and    <? 
occafion'd  his  Neigbboars  to  call  him  a  Fool ;   1 
but  he  bid  them  have  patience,  and  they  would 
fee    the  Truth  of  what  he  afferted  in  a  fhort 
time  :  and  it  fell  out  accordingly  ;  for  one  of 
the  Neighbourhood  died,   and  his  Corps   was 
carried  along  the  fame  unaccuftomed  Way,  the 
common  Road  being  at  that  time  filled  with  a     j 
deep  Snow.     This  Account  was  given  me  by    | 
the  Minifter,  and  others  living  there. 

Mr.  Mack-Pherfon's  Servant  foretold  that  a 
Kiln  n-iould  take  fire,  and  being  fome  time  after 
reprov'd  by  his  Mafier  for  talking  fo  fooliflily 
of  the  Second  Sight,  he  anfwer'd  that  he  could 
not  help  his  feeing  fuch  things  as  prefented  them- 
felves  to  his  view  in  a  very  lively  manner  ;  ad- 
ding further,  I  have  juft  now  feen  that  Boy 
fitting  by  the  Fire  with  his  Face  red,  as  if  the 
Blood  had  been  running  down  his  Forehead, 
and  I  could  not  avoid  feeing  this:  and  as  for  the 
Accomplifhment  of  it  within  forty  eight  hours, 
there  is  no  doubt,  fays  he,  it  having  appeared 
in  the  day-time.    The  Minifter  became  very 

angry 


Weftern  Iflands  of  Scotland.     3  1  p 

angry  at  his  Man,  and  chargM  him  never  to 
fpeak  one  word  more  of  the  Second  Sight ^  or  if 
he  could  not  hold  his  tongue,  to  provide  himfelf 
another  Mafter ;  telling  him  he  was  an  unhappy 
Fellow,  who  ftudied  to  abufe  credulous  People 
with  falfe  Prediftions.  There  was  no  more 
faidon  this  Subje£l  until  the  next  day,  that  the 
Boy  of  whom  the  Seer  fpoke,  came  in,  having 
his  Face  all  cover'd  with  Blood  ;  which  hap- 
pen'd  by  his  falling  on  a  heap  of  Stones.  This 
Account  was  given  me  by  the  Minifler  and 
others  of  his  Family. 

DANIEL  DOW,  alias  "Black,  an  Inhabi- 
tant of  Bornskittag,  was  frequently  troubled  at 
the  fight  of  a  Man  threatning  to  give  him  a 
Blow  :  he  knew  no  Man  refembling  this  Vifion  ; 
but  the  Stature,  Complexion  and  Habit  were  fo 
imprefs'd  on  his  Mind,  that  he  fai^  he  could  dif* 
tinguifh  him  from  any  other,  if  he  fhould  hap- 
pen to  fee  him.  About  a  Year  after  the  Vifioa 
appeared  firft  to  him,  his  Mafler  fent  him  to  Kyle- 
Raes,  above  thirty  Miles  further  South-Eaft, 
where  he  was  no  fooner  arriv'd,  than  he  diftin- 
guifh'd  the  Man  who  had  fo  often  appear'd  to 
him  at  home  ;  and  within  a  few  hours  after,  they 
happened  to  quarrel,  and  came  to  Blows,  fo  as 
one  of  them  (I  forgot  which)  was  wounded  in 
the  Head.  This  was  told  me  by  the  Seer's  Maf- 
ter, and  others  who  live  in  the  place.  The 
Man  himfelf  has  his  Refidence  there,  and  is  one 
of  the  precifeft  Seers  in  the  Ifies. 

Sif 


4 

3ZO      J"  Descrii>tion  of  tJ?e 

Sir  Normand  Mack-Leod,  and  fome  others 
pliying  at  Tables,  at  a  Game  call'd  in  Irifi 
Falmer-more,  wherein  there  are  three  of  a  fide, 
and  each  of  them  throw  the  Dice  by  turns ; 
there  happen'd  to  be  one  difficult  Point  in  the 
difpofingof  one  of  the  Table-men  :  thisoblig'd 
the  Gamefter  to  deliberate  before  he  was  to 
change  his  Man,  fince  upon  the  difpofing  of  it 
the  winning  or  lofing  of  the  Game  depended. 
At  laft  the  Butler,  who  flood  behind,  advifed  the 
Player  where  to  place  his  Man  ;  with  which 
he  comply'd,  and  won  the  Game.  This  being 
thought  extraordinary,  and  Sir  Normand  hear- 
^icg  one  whifper  himin  the  Ear,  ask'd  whoad- 
vis'd  him  fo  skilfully  ?  He  anfwer'd,  it  was  the 
Butler  ;  but  this  feem'd  more  ftrange,  for  he 
could  not  play  at  Tables.  Upon  this,  Sir  Nar- 
ptdnd  ask'd  him  how  long  it  was  fince  he  had 
Jearnt  to  play?  and  the  Fellow  own'd  that  he 
never  playM  in  his  life,  but  that  he  faw  the 
Spirit  Browny  reaching  his  Arm  over  the  Player's 
H«ad,  and  touch'd  the  Part  with  his  Finger,  on 
the  Point  where  the  Table- man  was  to  be 
plac'd.  This  was  told  me  by  Sit  Norm ajid 
an^: others,^. who  happen'd  to  be  prefent  at  the 
tiine.';^'^.;j;';7V 

DANIEL  DO^  above. nam'd,  foretold 
the  Death  of  a  young  Woman  in  Minginis^  with- 
iQ.Jefs  than  twenty  four  hours  before  tjie  time  ; 
and  accordingly  fhe  died  fuddenly  in  the  Fields, 

tho 


Wejlern  tjldnis  of  Scotland.     3  2 1 

tho  at  the  time  of  the  Predi6lion  fhe  was  in  per- 
ft^  Health ;  but  the  Shroud  appearing  clofe 
about  her  Head,  was  the  Ground  of  his  Confi- 
dence, that  her  Death  was  at  hand. 

THE  fame  Daniel  Dow  foretold  the  Death 
of  a  Child  in  his  Matter's  Arms,  by  feeing  a 
Spark  of  Fire  fall  on  his  left  Arm  ;  and  this  was 
likewife  accomplifh'd  foon  after  the  Predi£lion. 

SOME  of  the  Inhabitants  o{  Harries  faih'ng 
round  the  Ifle  of  Skie^  with  a  defign  to  go  to 
the  oppofite  main  Land,  were  flrangely  fur- 
priz'd  with  an  Apparition  of  two  Men  hanging 
down  by  the  Ropes  that  fecur'd  the  Matt,  but 
could  not  conjedure  what  it  meant.  They 
purfu'd  the  Voyage,  but  the  Wind  turn'd  con- 
trary, and  fo  forc'd  them  into  Broadford  in  the 
Ifle  of  Skte,  where  they  found  Sir  Donald  Mack- 
Donald  keeping  a  Sheriffs  Court,  and  two  Cri- 
minals receivmg  Sentence  of  Death  there :  the 
Ropes  and  Matt  of  that  very  Boat  were  made 
ufe  of  to  hang  thofe  Criminals.  This  was  told 
me  by  feveral,  who  had  this  Inftance  from  the 
Boat's  Crew. 

SEVERAL  Perfons  living  in  a  certain  Fa- 
mily, told  me  that  they  had  frequently  feen 
two  Men  ftanding  at  a  young  Gentlewoman's 
left  Hand,  who  was  their  Matter's  Daughter : 
they  told  the  Mens  Names ;  and  being  her 
Equals,  it  was  not  doubted,  but  (he  would  be 
X  married 


3  2  2      J  DESC'KlVTlOt^   of  the 

married  to  one  of  them ;  and  perhaps  to  the 
other,  after  the  Death  of  the  firll.  Some  time 
after,  a  third  Man  appeared,  and  he  feem'd  al- 
ways to  ftand  nearefl:  to  her  of  the  three,  but 
the  Seers^  did  not  know  him,  tho  they  could 
defcribe  him  exactly.  And  within  fome  Months 
after,  this  Man,  who  was  feen  laft,  didaftually 
come  to  the  Houfe,  and  fulfill'd  the  Defrip- 
tion  given  of  him  by  thofe  who  never  faw  him 
but  in  a  Vifion  ;  and  he  married  the  Woman 
fhortly  after.  They  live  in  the  Ifle  of  Skie ;  both 
they  and  others  confirm'd  the  Truth  of  this  In- 
fiance,  when  I  faw  them. 

MACK,-LEODh  Porter  pafling  by  a  Gal- 
ley that  lay  in  the  Dock,  faw  her  fill'd  with  , 
Men,  having  a  Corps,  and  near  to  it  he  faw  fe-  ■. 
veral  of  Mack-Leodh  Relations:  this  did  in  a 
manner  perfuade  him  that  his  Mafter  was  to  i 
die  foon  after,  and  that  he  was  to  be  the  Corps 
which  was  to  be  tranfported  in  the  Galley. 
Some  Months  after  the  Vifion  was  feen,  Mack- 
Leod^  \i^\i\\  feveral  of  his  Relations  and  others, 
went  to  the  Ifle  of  Mull ;  where  fome  days  af- 
ter, Mack  Lean  o{  Tor losk  happen' d  to  die,  and 
his  Corps  was  tranfported  in  the  Galley  to  his 
Burial-place,  and  Mack-Leod's  Relations  were 
on  board  to  attend  the  Funeral,  while  Mack- 
Leod  fldid  afiiore,  and  went  along  with  the 
Corps  al'rer  their  Landing. 

Mr. 


Wejlern  I/lands  of  Scotland*      J  23 

Mr.  Dougd  Mack'Pherfon,    Minifter   of  St. 
Maries  on  the  Weft  fide  of  Skie,    having  his 
Servants  in  the  Kiln,  drying  of  Corn,  the  Kiln 
happened  to  talte  fire,  but  was  foon  extinguifh'd. 
And  within  a  few  Months  after,   one  of   the 
Minifter^s   Servants    told   him    that   the  Kiln 
would  be  on  fire  again  fhortly  ;  at  which  he 
grew  very  angry  with  his  Man,  threatning  to 
beat  him   if   he  fhould  prefume  to  prophefy 
Mifchief,  by  that  lying  way  of  the  Second-ftght. 
Notwithftanding   this,  the  Man   afTerted  pofi- 
tively,   and  with  great  AfTurance,  that  the  Kiln 
would  certainly   take  fire,  let  them  ufe  all  the 
Precautions  they  could.     Upon  this,  Mr.  Mack^ 
Pherfon  had   the  Curiofity   to  enquire  of   his 
Man,  if  he  could  guefs  within  what  fpace  of 
time  the  Kiln  would  take  fire  ?  He  told  him 
before  HaUowtide.      Upon   which,    Mr.  Mack" 
Pherfon  call'd    for  the  Key  of  the  Kiln,    and 
told  his  Man,  that  he  would  take  care  of  the 
Kiln  until  the  limited  Day  was  expir'd,  for  none 
fhaH  enter  it  fooner ;  and  by  this  means  I  fhall 
make  the  Devil,    if  he  is  the  Author  of  fuch 
Lyes,  and  you  both  Lyars.    For  this  end  he 
kept  the  Key  of  the  Kiln  in  his  Prefs,  until  the 
time  was  over,  and  then  deliver'd  the  Key  to 
the  Servants,  concluding  his  Man  to  be  a  Fool 
and  a  Cheat.     Then  the  Servants  wen|  to  dry 
Corn  in  the  Kiln,  and  were  charg'd  to  have  a 
fpecial  Care  of  the  Fire  ;  yet  in  a  little  time  af^ 
ter  the  Kiln  took  Fire,  and  it  was  all  in  a  flame, 
K  %  aceor- 


324     ^  Descriptio  N  o/t^e 

according  to  the  Prediftion,  the  the  Map 
miftook  the  time.  He  told  his  Mafter,  th^t 
within  a  few  Monnents  after  the  Fire  of  the 
Kiln  had  been  firft  extinguifli'd,  he  faw  it  all  in 
a  flame  again ;  and  this  appearing  to  him  in 
the  day  time,  it  would  come  to  pafs  the 
fooner. 

'JOHN  Mack-Normand,  and  Darnel  Mack^  | 
Ewm,  travelling  along  the  Road,  two  Miles  to  • 
the  North  of  Snifort  Church,  faw  a  Body  of 
Men  coming  from  the  North,  as  if  they  had  a 
Corps  with  'em  to  be  buried  m Snifort:  this 
determin'd  them  to  advance  towards  the  Ri- 
ver, which  was  then  a  little  before  them,  and 
having  waited  at  the  Ford,  thinking  to  meet 
thofe  that  they  expeded  with  the  Funeral, 
were  altogether  difappointed ;  for  after  taking 
a  view  of  the  Ground  all  round  them,  they  dif- 
cover'd  tbat  it  was  only  a  Vifion.  This  was 
very  furprizing  to  them  both,  for  they  never 
faw  any  thing  by  way  of  the  Second- ftght  be- 
fore or  after  that  time.  This  they  told  their 
Neighbours  when  they  came  home,  and  it 
happen'd  that  about  two  or  three  Weeks  af- 
ter a  Corps  came  along  that  Road  from  ano- 
ther Parifli,  from  which  few  or  none  are 
brought  to  Snifort^  except  Perfons  of  Diftinc- 
fion  ;  fo  that  this  Vifion  was  exadly  accom- 
plilhcd. 


Wejlern  IJIands  of  Scorknd,     p  5 

A  GENTLExMAN  who  is  a  Native  of 
Skiey  did,  when  a  Boy,  difoblige  a  Seer  in  the  Ifle 
of  Rafayy  and  upbraid  him  for  his  Uglinefs,  as  be- 
ing black  by  Name  and  Nature.  At  la  ft  the 
Seer  told  him  very  angrily,  My  Child,  if  I  am 
black,  you'll  be  red  e'er  long.  The  Maflcr  of 
the  Family  chid  him  for  this,  and  bid  him  give 
over  his  fbolifh  PrediQions,  fince  no  body  be- 
liev'd  them;  but  next  Morning  the  Boy  being  at 
play  near  the  Houfes,  fell  on  a  Stone,  and  woun- 
ded himfelf  in  the  Forehead,  fo  deep,  that  to 
this  day  there's  a  hallow  Scar  in  that  Fart  of  it. 

'JAMES  BEATON,  Surgeon  in  the  Ifle 
of  North'Vift^  told  me,  that  being  in  the  Ifle 
of  Mull^  2L  Seer  told  him  confidently,  that  he 
was  fhortly  to  have  a  bloody  Forehead  ;  but 
he  difregarded  it,  and  call'd  the  Seer  a  Fool. 
However,  this  James  being  call'd  by  fome  of 
the  Mackleans  to  go  along  with  them  to  at- 
tack a  VefTel  belonging  to  the  Earl  of  Argyle, 
who  was  then  coming  to  polTefs  Mull  by  force ; 
they  attacked  the  Veikl,  and  one  of  the  Mack- 
Leans  being  wounded,  thefaid  J^^w^i  while  dref- 
(ing  the  Wound,  happened  to  rub  his  Forehtad, 
and  then  fame  of  his  Patient's  Blood  ftuck  to  his 
Face,  which  accomplifli'd  the  Vifion. 

MY  Lord  Vifcount  Tarhat,  one  of  her  Ma- 

jefty's  Secretaries  of  State  in  Scot landy  travelling 

ir>  the  Shire  of  Rofs^  in  the  North  of  Scotland 

^   H  came. 


Ii6     ^  Description  o/t^e 

came  into  a  Houfe,  and  fat  down  in  an  arm'd 
Chair  :  one  of  his  Retinue  who  had  the  Faculty 
of  feeing  the  Second-fight,  fpoke  to  fome  of  my 
Lord's  Company,  defiring  them  to  perfuade  him 
to  leave  the  Houfe  ;  for,  laid  he,  there  is  a  great 
Misfortune  will  attend  fomebody  in  it,  and 
that  within  a  few  Hours.  This  was  told  my 
Lord,  but  he  did  not  regard  it :  The  Seer  did 
foon  after  renew  his  Intreaty,  with  much  Ea- 
gernefs,  begging  that  my  Lord  might  remove 
out  of  that  unhappy  Chair,  but  had  no  other 
anfwer  than  to  be  expos'd  for  a  Fool.  Some 
Hours  after  my  Lord  remov'd,  and  purfu'd  his 
Journey  ;  but  was  not  gone  many  Hours  when 
a  Trooper  riding  upon  the  Ice,  near  the  Houfe 
whence  my  Lord  remov'd,  fell  and  broke  his 
Thigh,  and  being  afterwards  brought  into  that 
Houfe,  was  laid  in  the  armed  Chair,  where 
his  Wound  was  drefs'd,  which  accomplifhed 
the  Vifion.  I  heard  this  Inftance  from  feveral 
Hands,  and  had  it  fince  confirm'd  by  my  Lord 
himfeif. 

A  MAN  in  the  Parifh  of  St.  Maries^  in  the 
Barony  of  Trotemefs  in  Skie,  called  Lachlifi, 
lay  fick  for  the  fpace  of  fome  Months,  decaying 
daily,  infomuch  that  all  his  Relations  and  Ac- 
quaintance defpair'd  of  his  Recovery.  One  of 
the  Parifhioners,  called  Archibald  Mack-Donald^ 
being  reputed  famous  for  his  Skill  in  foretelling 
things  to  come,  by  the  Second-fight ^  afferted 
poflitively  that  the  Tick  Man  would  never  die 

in 


Wejleni  IJlands  of  Scothnd.        327 

in  the  Houfe  where  he  then  lay.  This  being 
thought  very  improbable,  all  the  Neighbours 
condemn'd  Archibald  as  a  foolifh  Prophet :  upon 
which,  he  paflionately  affirm'd,  that  if  ever 
that  fick  Man  dies  in  the  Houfe  where  he  now 
lies,  I  fhall  from  henceforth  renounce  my  Fart 
of  Heaven  j  adding  withal,  the  Sick  Man  was 
to  be  carried  alive  out  of  the  Houfe  in  which 
he  then  lay,  but  that  he  would  never  return  to  it 
alive ;  and  then  he  nam'd  the  Perfons  that  Hiould 
carry  out  the  Sick  Man  alive.  The  Man  having 
liv'd  fome  Weeks  longer  than  his  Friends  ima- 
gin'd,  and  proving  uneafy  and  troublefom  to 
all  the  Family  ;  they  confidered  that  Archibald 
had  reafon  for  his  peremptory  Affertion,  and 
therefore  they  refolvM  to  carry  him  to  a  Houfe 
joining  to  that  in  which  he  then  lay :  but  the 
Poor  Man  would  by  no  means  give  his  confent 
to  be  mov'd  from  a  Place  where  he  believ'd 
he  fhould  never  die ;  fo  much  did  he  rely  on 
the  Words  of  Archibald,  of  whofe  Skill  he  had 
feen  many  Demonttrations.  But  at  laft  his 
Friends  being  fatigu'd  day  and  night  with  the 
Sick  Man's  Uneafinefs,  they  carried  him  againft 
his  Inclination  to  another  little  Houfe,  which 
was  only  feparated  by  an  Entry  from  that  in 
which  he  lay,  and  their  Feet  were  fcarce  within 
the  Threfhold,  when  the  Sick  Man  gave  up  the 
Ghoft ;  and  it  was  remarkable  that  the  two 
Neighbours,  which  Archibald  named  would 
carry  him  out,  were  aftually  the  Perfons  that 
did  fo.  At  the  time  of  the  Prediction,  Archi- 
X  4  bald 


3i8     ^Description  of  the 

^ald  faw  him  carried  out  as  above,  and  when  he 
was  within  the  Door  of  the  other  Houfe,  he 
faw  him  all  white,  and  the  Shroud  being  about 
him,  occafion'd  his  confidence  as  above  men- 
tionM.  This  is  Matter  ot  Faft,  which  Mr,  Da- 
mel  Nicholfon  Minifter  of  the  Parifh,  and  a  con- 
fiderable  Number  of  the  PariChioners,  are  able 
to  vouch  for,  and  ready  to  atteft,  if  occafion 
requires. 

THE  fame  Archibald  Maek-DonaU  happen'd 
to  be  in  the  Village  Kjtockow  one  night,  and 
before  Supper  told  the  Family,  that  he  had  juft 
then  feen  the  ftrangeft  thing  he  ever  faw  in  his 
Life  j  to  wit,  a  Man  with  an  ugly  long  Cap, 
always  (baking  his  Head :  but  that  the  ftrangeft 
of  all,  was  a  little  kind  of  a  Harp  which  he 
had,  with  four  Strings  only,  and  that  it  had 
two  Harts- Horns  fixed  in  the  Front  of  it.  All 
that  heard  this  odd  Vifion,  fell  a  laughing  at 
Archibald,  telling  him  that  he  was  dreaming, 
or  had  not  his  Wits  about  him  ;  fince  he  preten- 
ded to  fee  a  thing  that  had  no  being,  and  was 
not  fo  much  as  heard  of  in  any  Fart  of  the 
World.  All  this  could  not  alter  Archibald's  Opi- 
nion, who  told  them  that  they  muft  excufe  him, 
if  he  laugh'd  at  them  after  the  Accomplifhmenc 
of  the  Vifion.  Archibald  returnM  to  his  own 
Houfe,  and  within  three  or  four  days  after,  a 
Man  with  the  Cap,  Harp,  &c.  came  to  the  Houfe, 
and  the  Harp,  Strings,  Horns,  and  Cap  anfwer'd 
the  Defcription  qf  them  at  firft  view  :  he  fhook 
'  '      '      ■  hi^ 


Wejlern  Ifands  of  Scotland.      319 

bis  Head  when  he  play 'd,  for  he  had  twoBeUs 
fixed  to  his  Cap.  This  Harper  was  a  poor  Man, 
and  made  himlelf  a  Buffoon  for  his  Bread,  and 
was  never  before  fcen  in  thofe  Parts;  for  at 
the  time  of  the  Predidion,  he  was  in  the  Iile 
otBarraj,  which  is  above  twenty  Leagues  <){{- 
tant  from  that  Part  of  Sk^e.  This  Story  is 
vouched  by  Mr.  Doftiel  Martm,  and  all  his  Fa- 
mily, and  fuch  as  were  then  prefent,  and  live 
in  the  Village  where  this  happen'd. 

Mr.  Daniel  Nicholfon  Minifter  of  St.  Maries  in 
Skte^  the  Parifh  in  which  Archibald  Mack-Donald 
liv'd,  told  me,  that  one  Sunday  after  Sermon  at 
the  Chappel  Vge,  he  took  occafion  to  enquire 
oi  Archibald^  it  he  ftill  retain'd  that  unhappy  Fa- 
culty of  feeing  the  Second-fight^  and  he  wifhed 
him  to  lay  it  afide,  if  pofTible ;  for,  faid  he,  it 
is  no  true  Charader  of  a  good  Man.  Archibald 
was  highly  difpleas'd,  and  anfwer'd,  That  he 
hopM  he  was  no  more  unhappy  than  his  Neigh- 
hours,  for  feeing  what  they  could  not  perceive  ; 
adding,  I  had,  fays  he,  as  ferious  Thoughts  as  my 
Neighbours,  in  time  of  hearing  a  Sermon  to-day, 
and  even  then  I  faw  a  Corps  laid  on  the  Ground 
clofe  to  the  Pulpit,  and  I  affure  you  it  will  be 
accomplifh'd  fhortly,  for  it  was  in  the  day-time. 
Mr.  Nicholfon  and  feveral  Pariibioners  then  pre- 
fent,  endeavour'd  to  diiTuade  Archibald  from 
this  Difcourfe  ;  but  he  ftill  afferted  that  it  would 
quickly  come  to  pafs,  and  that  all  his  other  Pre- 
diftions  of  this  kind  had  ever  been  accompli fh'd. 

There! 


^  5  O       '^  D  E  S  C  R  I  P  T  I  O  N  0/  ^/^e 

There  was  none  in  the  Parifh  then  fick,  and  few 
are  buried  at  that  little  Chappel,  nay  fometimes 
not  one  in  a  Year  is  buried  there  ;  yet  when  Mr. 
JSJicholfon  return'd  to  preach  in  the  faid  Chappel, 
two  or  three  Weeks  after,  he  found  one  buried 
in  the  very  fpot  i\2i\x\!^h^  Archihdd..  This  Sto- 
ry is  vouched  by  Mr.  Nkholfon,  and  feveral  of 
the  Parifhioners  ftill  living. 

Mr.  Daniel  Nicholfon  above  mention'd,  being 
a  Widower  at  the  Age  of  44,  this  Archibdd 
faw  in  a  Vifion  a  young  Gentlewoman  in  a 
good  Drefs  frequently  ftanding  at  Mr.  NkhoL 
fan's  right  Hand,  and  this  he  often  told  the  Pa- 
rifhioners  pofitively ;  and  gave  an  account,  of 
her  Complexion,  Stature,  Habit,  and  that  /he 
would  in  time  be  Mr.  Nicholfon's  Wife :  this 
being  told  the  Minifter  by  feveral  of  'em,  he  de- 
fired  them  to  have  no  regard  to  what  that  foolifh 
Dreamer  had  faid ;  for,  faid  he,  it  is  twenty 
to  one  if  ever  I  marry  again.  Archibald  hap- 
pened to  fee  Mr.  Nicholfon  foon  after  this  flight- 
ing Expreflion,  however  he  perfifted  ftill  in  his 
Opinion,  and  faid  confidently  that  Mr.  Nichol- 
fon would  certainly  marry,  and  that  the  Woman 
would  in  all  Points  make  up  the  Charader  he 
gave  of  her,  for  he  faw  her  as  often  as  he  faw 
Mr.  Nicholfon.  This  Srory  was  told  me  above 
a  Year  before  the  Accomplifhment  of  it ;  and 
Mr.  Nicholfon^  fome  two  or  three  Years  after  Ar- 
chibaUh  Prediction,  went  to  a  Synod  in  Boot^ 
where  he  had  the  firft  Opportunity  of  feeing 

one 


Wejlern  Iflanis  of  Scotland.     331 

one  Mrs.  Morifon,  and  from  that  moment  fan- 
cied her,  and  afterwards  married  her.  She  was 
no  fooner  feen  in  the  Ifle  of  Skie,  than  the  Na- 
tives, who  had  never  feen  her  before,  were  fatif- 
fy'd  that  fhedid  compleatly  anfwer  the  Charac- 
ter given  of  her,  &c.  by  Archibald. 

ONE  who  had  been  accufl:bmed  to  fee  the 
Second- fight,  in  the  Ifle  of  Egg,  which  lies  about 
three  or  four  Leagues  to  the  South- Wefl:  Part 
of  the  Ifle  of  Skie.^  told  his  Neighbours  that  he 
had  frequently  feen  an  Apparition  of  a  Man  in 
a  red  Coat  lin'd  with  blue,  and  having  on  his 
Head  a  ftrange  fort  of  blue  Cap,  with  a  very 
high  Cock  on  the  fore-part  of  it,  and  that  the 
Man  who  there  appcar'd,  was  kifling  a  comely 
Maid  in  the  Village  where  the  Seer  dwelt;  and 
therefore  declared  that  a  Man  in  fuch  a  Drefs 
would  certainly  debauch  or  marivy  fuch  a  Young 
Woman.  This  unufuai  Vifion  did  much  expofe 
the  Seer,  for  all  the  Inhabitants  treated  him  as  a 
Fool,  tho  he  had  on  feveral  other  occafions  fore- 
told things  that  afterwards  were  accomplifhed ; 
this  they  thought  one  of  the  mofl:  unlikely 
things  to  be  accompliflied,  that  could  have  en- 
tred  into  any  Man's  Head.  This  Story  was  then 
difcours'd  of  in  the  Ifle  of  Skie,  and  all  that 
heard  it,  laugh'd  at  it ;  it  being  a  Rarity  to  fee 
any  Foreigner  in  Egg,  and  the  Young  Woman 
had  no  thoughts  of  going  any  where  elfe. 
This  Story  was  told  me  at  Edinburgh^  by  Nor- 
mand  Mack-Leod  of  Grabm^  in  Sep  ember   i68o. 

he 


332     ^  Description  o/ /^f 

he  being  juft  then  come  from  the  Ifle  of  Skte ; 
and  there  were  prefent,  the  Laird  of  Mack-Leod^ 
and  Mr.  Alexander  Mdck-Leod  Advocate,  and 
others. 

ABOUT  a  Year  and  a  half  after  the  late  Re- 
volution, Major  FergufoHy  now  Colonel  of  one 
of  her  Majefty's  Regiments  of  Foot,  was  then 
fent  by  the  Government  with  fix  hundred  Men, 
and  fome  Frigots  to  reduce  the  Iflanders  that 
had  appear'd  for  K.  jT.  and   perhaps  the  fmall 
Ifle  of  Egg  had  never  been  regarded,  tho  fome  of 
the  Inhabitants  had  been  at  the  Battle  a^  Kjli- 
cranky^  but  by  a  mere  Accident,  which  deter- 
min'd  Major  Fergufon  to    go  the  Ifle  of  Egg^ 
which  was  this  :  A  Boat's  Crew  of  the  Ifle  of 
Egg^  happen'd  to  be  in  the  Ifle  of  5/('/V,  andkill'd 
one  of  Major  Fergufonh  Soldiers  there ;  upon  no- 
tice of  which,  the  Major  direfted  hisCourfe  to 
the  Ifle  of  £gg^,f^where  he  was  fufliciently  re- 
veng'd  of  the  Natives :  and  at  the  fame  time, 
the  Maid  above  mention'd  being  very  handfom, 
was  then  forcibly  carried  on  board  one   of  the 
VefTels,  by  fome  of  the  Soldiers,  where  ftie  was 
kept  above  twenty  four  Hours,  and  ravifhM,  and 
brutiflily  robb'd  at  the  fame  time  of  her  find 
Head  of  Hair :  She  is  fince  married  in  the  Jfle, 
and  in  good  Reputation  \  her  Misfortune  being 
pitied,  and  not  reckon'd  her  Crime. 

Sir  Normand  M/tck-Leod^    who  has  his  Re- 
fiJence  ip  the  Ifle  of  Bernera,  which  lies  be- 

^we^n 


Wejlern  I/lands  of  Scotland.     333 

tweeo  thelfle  of  North-FiB  and  Harries,  went 
to  the  Ifle  of  Skie  about  Bufincfs,  without  ap- 
pointing any  time  for  his  return  :  his  Servants 
in  his  abfence,  being  all  together  in  the  large 
Hail  at  Night,  one  of  them  who  had  been  ac- 
cuftomed  to  fee  tht  Second-Sight ,  told  the  reft 
they  muft  remove,  for  they  would  have  abun- 
dance of  other  Company  in  the  Hall  that  night. 
One  of  his  Fellow-Servants  anfwer'd,  that  there 
was  very  little  Appearance  of  timt,  and  if  he 
had  feen  any  Viiion  of  Company,  it  was  not 
like  to  be  accomplifh'd  this  Night  ;  But  the 
Seer  infifted  upon  it,  that  it  was.  They  continu'd 
to  argue  the  Improbability  of  it,  becaufe  of 
the  Darknefs  of  the  Night,  and  the  Danger 
of  coming  thro  the  Rocks  that  lie  round  the 
Ifle :  but  within  an  Hour  after,  one  of  Sir  Nor* 
mAnd's  Men  came  to  the  Houfe,  bidding  them 
provide  Lights,  &e.  for  his  Mafter  had  newly 
landed  ;  and  thus  the  Prediftion  was  immediate- 
ly accomplilhed. 

Sir  Normand  hearing  of  it,  call'd  for  the 
Seer,  and  examined  him  about  it ;  he  anfwer'd, 
that  he  had  feen  the  Spirit  call'd  Browny^  in  hu- 
man Shape,  come  feveral  times,  and  make  a  (hew 
of  carrying  an  old  Woman  that  fat  by  the  Fire  to 
the  Door ;  and  at  lafl:  feem'd  to  carry  her  out  by 
neck  and  heels,  which  made  him  laugh  heartily, 
and  gave  occafion  to  the  reft  to  conclude  he  was 
mad,  to  laugh  fo  without  reafon.  This  Inflance 
was' told  me  by  Sir  NormAnd  himfelf. 

FOUR 


334     ^^Description  of  the 

FOUR  Men  from  the  Ifle  of  Skie  and  H^f. 
ries  having  gone  to  Barhadoes,  ftay'd  there  for 
fourteen  Years  ;  and  tho  they  were  wont  to  fee 
the  Second-fight  in  their  Native  Country,  they 
never  faw  it  in  B/trhadoes  :  but  upon  their  return 
to  England^  the  firft  Night  after  their  landing 
they  faw  the  Second-fight,  as  was  told  me  by  fe* 
veral  of  their  Acquaintance. 

JOHN  MORIS  ON,  who  lives  in  Bernera 
of  Harries,  wears  the  Plant  call'd  Fuga  Damonum 
few'd  in  the  Neck  of  his  Coat,  to  prevent  his 
feeing  of  Vifions,  and  fays  he  never  faw  any 
fince  he  firft  carried  that  Plant  about  him.  He 
fufter'd  me  to  k^X  the  Plant  in  the  Neck  of  his 
Coat,  but  would  by  no  means  let  me  open  the 
Seam,  tho  I  offer'd  him  a  Reward  to  let  me 
do  it. 

A  SPIRIT,  by  the  Country  People  call'd 
Brownj,  was  frequently  feen  in  all  the  moft 
confiderable  Families  in  the  Ifles  and  North  of 
Scotland,  in  the  fhape  of  a  tall  Man  ;  but  with- 
in thefe  twenty  or  thirty  Years  paft,  he  is  feen 
but  rarely. 

THERE  were  Spirits  alfo  that  appeared  in 
the  fliape  of  Women,  Horfes,  Swine,  Cats, 
and  fome  like  fiery  Balls,  which  would  follow 
Men  in  the  Fields ;  but  there  has  been  but  few 
Inftances  of  thefe  for  forty  Years  paft. 

THESE 


Wejlern  Iflands  of  Scotland.     335 

THESE  Spirits  us'd  alfo  to  form  Sounds  in 
the  Air,  refembling  thofe  of  a  Harp,  Pipe, 
Crowing  of  a  Cock,  and  of  the  grinding  of 
Querns :  and  fometimes  they  have  heard  Voices 
in  the  Air  by  Night,  finging  Iri/h  Songs ;  the 
Words  of  which  Songs  fome  of  my  Acquain- 
tance ftill  retain.  One  of  'em  refembled  the 
Voice  of  a  Woman  who  had  died  fome  time  be- 
fore, and  the  Song  related  to  her  State  in  the 
other  World.  Thefe  Accounts  I  had  from 
Perfons  of  as  great  Integrity  as  any  are  in  the 
World. 


A 


33^     ^  Description  i^f  the 

A  'Brief  Account  of  the  Advantages  the  Ifles 
afford  by  Sea  and  Landy  and  particularly 
for  a  Fi[hing  Trade. 


TH  E  North- Weft  Ifles  are  of  all  other  moft 
capable  of  Improvement  by  Sea  and 
Land ;    yet  by  reafon  of  their  Diftance  from 
Trading  Towns,  and  becaufe  of  their  Language, 
which  is  Irifh^  the  Inhabitants  have  never  had 
any  opportunity  to  trade  at  home  or  abroad, 
or  to  acquire  Mechanical  Arts,  and  other  Scien- 
ces :  fo  that  they  are  ftill  left  to  aQ:  by  the 
force  of  their  natural  Genius,  and  what  they 
could  learn  by  obfervation.      They  have  not 
yet  arriv'd  to  a  competent  Knowledg  in  Agri- 
culture, for  which  caufe  many  Trafts  of  rich 
Ground  lie  neglected,  or  at  leaft  but  meanly 
improv'd,  in   proportion  to  what  they  might 
be.     This  is  the  more  to  be  regretted,  becaufe 
the  People  are    as  capable  to  acquire  Arts  or 
Sciences,   as  any  other  in  Europe,     If  two  or 
more  Perfons  skill'd  in  Agriculture  were  fenc 
from  the  Low- lands,  to  each  Parifli  in  the  Ifles, 
they  would  foon  enable  the  Natives- to  furnifh 
themfelves  with  fuch  Plenty  of  Corn,  as  would 
maintain  ail  their  poor  and  idle  People  ;  many 
of   which,  for  want  of  Subfiftence  at  home, 
are   forc'd  to  feek  their  Livelihood  in  foreign 
Countries,  to  the  great  Lofs,  as  weli  as  Diflio- 

nour, 


Weflern  Jflands  of  Scothnd.     337 

nour  of  the  Nation.  This  would  enable  them 
alfo  to  furnifh  the  oppofite  barren  Parts  of  the 
Continent  with  Bread  ;  and  fo  much  the  more, 
that  in  plentiful  Years  they  afford  them  good 
Quantities  of  Corn  in  this  infant  State  of  their 
Agriculture.  They  have  many  large  Parcels  of 
Ground  never  yet  manur'd,  which  if  cultiva- 
ted, would  maintain  double  the  Number  of  the 
prefent  Inhabitants,  and  increafe  and  preferve 
their  Cattle;  many  of  which,  for  want  of  Hay 
or  Straw,  die  in  the  Winter  and  Spring:  fo 
that  I  have  known  particular  Perfons  lofe  above 
one  hundred  Cows  at  a  time,  meerly  by  want 
of  Fodder. 

THIS  is  fo  much  the  more  inexcufable, 
becaufe  the  Ground  in  the  We(iern  Ifles  is  na- 
turally richer  in  many  refpeQs  than  in  many 
other  Parts  of  the  Continent ;  as  appears  from 
feveral  Inftances,  particularly  in  Skie^  and  the 
oppofite  Wefl:ern  Ifles,  in  which  there  are  ma- 
ny Valleys,  &c.  capable  of  good  Improvemenr, 
and  of  which  divers  Experiments  have  been  al- 
ready made ;  and  befides,  moft  of  thofe  Places 
have  the  Convenience  of  FreOi- water  Lakes  and 
Rivers,  as  well  as  of  the  Sea,  near  at  hand,  to 
furnifh  the  Inhabitants  with  Fifh  of  many  forts, 
and  Jiga  Marina  for  manuring  the  Ground. 

I N  many  Places  the  Soil  is  proper  for  Wheat ; 

and  that  their  Grafs  is  good,  is  evident  from 

the  great   Produd  of  their  Cattle :   fo  that  if 

Y  the 


33^     ^  Description  o/fk 

the  Natives  were  taught  and  encouraged  to 
take  pains  to  improve  their  Corn  and  Hay,  to 
plant,  inclofe  and  manuretheir  Ground,  drain 
Lakes,  fow  Wheat  and  Peafe,  and  plant  Or- 
chards, and  Kitchin-Gardens,  &c,  they  might 
have  as  great  Plenty  of  all  things  for  the  Sufte- 
nance  of  Mankind,  as  any  other  People  in 
Europe. 

I  H  A  V  E  known  a  hundred  Families,  of  four 
or  five  Perfons  apiece  at  lea  ft,  maintain'd  there 
upon  little  Farms,  for  which  they  paid  not 
above  five  Shillings  Steri.  one  Sheep,  and  fome 
Pecks  of  Corn  per  A»n.  each  ;  which  is  enough 
to  (hew,  that  by  a  better  Improvement,  that 
Country  would  maintain  many  more  Inhabitants 
than  live  now  in  the  Ifles. 

IF  any  Man  be  difpos'd  to  live  a  foHtary 
retir'd  Life,  and  to  withdraw  from  the  Noife 
of  the  World,  he  may  have  a  Place  of  Retreat 
there  in  a  fmall  Ifland,  or  in  the  Corner  of  a 
large  one,  where  he  may  enjoy  himfelf,  and 
live  at  a  very  cheap  rate. 

I F  any  Family,  reduc'd  to  low  Circumftances, 
had  a  mind  to  retire  to  any  of  thefe  Ifles,  there 
is  no  Part  of  the  known  World,  where  they 
may  have  the  Produftsof  Sea  and  Land  cheaper, 
live  more  fecurely,  or  among  a  more  tradable 
and  mild  People.      And  that   the  Country  in 

general 


Weftern  I/lands  of  Scotland.      559 

general  is    healthful,   appears  from  the  good 
State  of  Health  enjoy 'd  by  the  Inhabitants. 

I  SHALL  not  offer  to  aflert  that  there  are 
Mines  of  Gold  or  Silver  in  the  Weftern  Ifles, 
from  any  refemblance  they  may  bear  to  other 
Parts  that  afford  Mines,  but  the  Natives  affirm 
that  Gold  Duft  has  been  found  at  Grimmis  on  the 
Weftern  Coaft  of  the  Ifle  of  North-Fifi,  and  at 
Cofveaul  in  Harries  \  in  which,  as  well  as  in 
other  Parts  of  the  Ifles,  the  Teeth  of  the  Sheep 
which  feed  there  are  dyed  yellow. 

THERE  is  a  good  Lead  Mine,  having  a 
Mixture  of  Silver  in  it,  on  the  Weft  end  of  the 
Ifle  of  7/4,  near  Port  Efcock ;  and  Buchanan  and 
others  fay,  that  the  Ifle  Ltjmore  affords  Lead  ; 
and  Slait  and  Strath^  on  the  South-Weft:  of 
Skie^  are  in  Stone,  Ground,  Grafs,  &c,  exadly 
the  fame  with  that  Part  of  lU^  where  there's 
a  Lead  Mine.  And  if  fearch  were  made  in  the 
Ifles  and  Hills  of  the  oppofice  Main,  it  is  not 
improbable  that  fome  good  Mines  might  be  dif- 
cover'd  in  fome  of  them. 

I  WAS  told  by  a  Gentleman  of  Lochaher, 
that  an  Enghjb-Msir]  had  found  fome  Gold- 
Duft  in  a  Mountain  near  the  River  Lochy,  but 
could  never  find  out  the  Place  again  after  his 
return  from  England.,  That  there  have  been 
Gold  Mines  in  Scotland^  is  clear,  from  the  Ma- 
Y  2  nufcripts 


J40     ^Description  of  the 

nufcripts  mention'd  by  Dr.  Nicholfon^  now  Bifhop 
Li  Carlip,  in  his  late  Scots  Hift,  Library. 

THE  Situation  of  thefe  Ifles  for  promoting 
Trade  in  general,  appears  advantageous  enough  ; 
but  more  particularly  for  a  Trade  with  Den- 
mark, Sweden,  Hamburgh  Holland,  Britain,  and 
Ireland.  France  and  S^ain  feem  remote,  yet 
they  don't  exceed  a  Week's  Sailing,  with  a  fa- 
vourable Wind. 

THE  General  Opinion  of  the  Advantage 
that  might  be  reap'd  from  the  Improvement  of 
the  Fifh  Trade  in  thefe  Ifles,  prevailM  among 
confidering  People  in  former  times  to  attempt 
it. 

THE  firft  that  I  know  of,  was  by  King 
Charles  the  Firil,  in  conjunQion  with  a  Com- 
pany of  Merchants ;  but  it  mifcarried  becaufe 
of  the  Civil  Wars,  which  unhappily  broke  out 
at  that  time. 

THE  next  Attempt  was  by  King  Charles 
the  Second,  who  alfo  joinM  with  fome  Mer- 
chants ;  and  this  fucceeded  well  for  a  time.  I 
am  affured  by  fuch  as  faw  the  Fifh  catch'd 
by  that  Company,  that  they  were  reputed  the 
befi:  in  Europe  of  their  kind,  and  accordingly, 
were  fold  for  a  greater  Price  ;  but  this  Defign 
was  ruin'd  thus:  The  King  having  occafion 
for    Mony,   was    advis'd   to   withdraw    that 

which 


Wejlern  IJlc^nds  of  Scotland.      ^41 

which  was  employ'd  in  the  Fifhery  ;  at  which 
the  Merchants  being  difpleas'd,  and  difagreeing 
likewife  among  themfelves,  they  alfo  withdrew 
their  Mooy  :  and  the  Attempt  has  never  been 
renew'd  fince  that  time.  ,     . , 

THE  fettling  a  Fifhery  in  thofe  Parts  woiild 
prove  of  great  advantage  to  the  Government, 
and  be  an  effedual  Means  to  advance  the  Re- 
venue, by  the  Cuftoms  on  Export  and  Im- 
port, &c. 

I T  would  alfo  be  a  Nurferjrhrof  ftout  and 
able  Seamen  in  a  very  fhort  time,  to  ferve  the 
Government  on  all  Occafions.  The  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Ifles  andbppofite  Main-Land  being 
very  prolifick  already,  the  Country  would  be- 
yond all  peradventure  become  very  populous  in 
a  little  time,  if  a  Fifhery  were  once  fettled 
among  them.  The  Inhabitants  are  not  con- 
temptible for  their  number  at  prefent,  nor 
are  they  to  learn  the  ufe  of  the  Oar,  for  all  of 
them  are  generally  very  dextrous  at  it :  fo 
that  thofe  Places  need  not  to  be  planted  with 
a  new  Colony,  but  only  furnifh'd  with  pro- 
per Materials,  and  a  few  expert  Hands,  to  join 
with  the  Natives  to  fet  on  foot  and  advance  a 
Fifhery. 

THE  People  inhabiting  the  Weftern  lOes  of 

Scotland^    may  be  about  forty   thoufand,    and 

many  of  'em  want  Emy  loy  ment  j   this  is  a  great 

Y  ^  Encou- 


34^     ^  Description  o/f/;e 

Encouragement,  both  for  fetting  up  other  Ma- 
nufaftories,  and  the  fifhing  Trade  among  em  : 
Befides  a  great  number  of  People  may  be  expec- 
ted from  the  oppofite  Continent  of  the  High- 
Lands,  and  North  ;  which  from  a  late  Com- 
putation, by  one  who  had  an  Eftimate  of  their 
Number,  from  (everal  Minifters  in  the  Coun- 
try, are  reckoned  to  exceed  the  Number  of  IJlan- 
den  above  ten  to  one  :  and  'tis  too  well  known, 
that  many  of  'em  alfo  want  Employment.  The 
Objeftion,  that  they  fpeak  only  /r//Z/,  is  nothing  : 
many  of  'em  underftand  Engltfh^  in  all  the  con- 
.  fiderablelfland^,  which  are  lufficient  to  direct 
the  reft  in  catching  and  curing  Fifh  ;  and  in  a 
little  time  the  Youth  would  learn  Englijh. 

THE  Commodioufnefs  and  Safety  of  the  nu- 
merous Bays  and  Harbours  in  thofe  Ifles,  feem 
as  if  Nature  had  defign'd  them  for  promoting 
Trade:  they  are  likewife  furnifh'd  with  Plenty 
of  good  Water,  and  Stones  for  building.  The 
oppofite  Main  Land  affords  Wood  of  divers 
forts  for  that  ufe.  They  have  Abundance  of 
Turif  and  Peat  for  Fewel ;  and  of  this  latter, 
there  is  fucli  Plenty  in  many  Parts,  as  might  fur- 
nifh  Salt-Pans  wih  Fire  all  the  Year  round. 
The  Sea  fo.css  its  Pdflfage  in  feveral  fmall  Chan- 
nels through  the  Land  ;  fo  as  it  renders  the  De- 
fign  moreeafy  and  pradicable. 

THE  Coafl:  of  each  ffle  affords  many  thou- 
fand  Load  of  Sea  ware,  which  ifpreferv'd,  might 

be 


Wcjlern  I/lands  of  Scotland.  345 

be  fuccefsfuUy  us'd  for  making  Glafs,  and  like- 
wife  IQ/p  for  Soap. 

THE  generality  of  the  Bays  afford  all  forts 
of  Shel]-fifh  in  great  plenty  ;  as  Oyfters,  Clams, 
Mufcles,  Lobfters,  Cockles,  &c.  which  might 
be  pickled,  and  exported  in  great  quantities. 
There  are  great  and  fmall  Whales  of  divers 
kinds  to  be  had  round  the  Ifles,  and  on  the 
Shore  of  the  oppofite  Continent ;  and  are  fre- 
quently feen  in  narrow  Bays,  where  they  may 
be  eafily  caught.  The  great  Number  of  Ri- 
vers, both  in  the  Ifles  and  oppofite  main  Land, 
afford  abundance  of  Salmon,  which,  if  rightly 
manag'd,  might  turn  to  a  good  account. 

THE  Ifles  afford  likewife  great  quantities 
of  black  Cattle,  which  might  ferve  the  Traders 
both  for  Confumption  and  Export. 

STRATH  in  <Sh> abounds  with  good  Mar- 
ble, which  may  be  had  at  an  eafy  rate,  and 
near  the  Sea. 

THERE  is  good  Wool  in  moft  of  the 
Ifles,  and  very  cheap;  fome  are  at  the  charge 
of  carrying  it  on  Horfe-back,  about  feventy  or 
eighty  Miles,  to  the  Shires  of  Murray  and 
Aberdeen, 

T  H  E  R  E  are  feveral  of  the  Ifles,  that  afford  a 

great  deal  of  very  fine  Clay ;  which,  if  improv'd, 

Y  4  might 


344     ^Description  of  the 

might  turn  to  a  good  account  for  making  Ear- 
then Ware  of  all  forts. 

THE  moft  centrical  and  convenient  Places 
for  keeping  Magazines  of  Cask,  Salt,  &c,  are 
thofe  mention'd  in  the  refpeftive  Ifles ;  as  one 
at  Loch-Maddj  Ifles,  in  the  lile  of  Nonh-Vift ;  a 
feond  in  the  Ifle  Hermetra,  on  the  C.oafl:  of  the 
Ifle  Harries  ;  a  third  in  Ifland  Giafs^  on  the 
Coaft  of  Harries  ;  and  a  fourth  in  StorKvay,  in 
the  Ifle  of  Lewis. 

BUT  for  fettling  a  Magazine  or  Colony  for 
Trade  in  general,  and  Fifliing  in  particular,  the 
Ifle  of  Skie  is  abfolutely  the  mofl:  centrical,  both 
with  regard  to  the  Ifles  and  oppofite  main  Land  ; 
and  the  moft  proper  Places  in  this  Ifle,  are 
Ifland  Jfa  in  LochjalUrt,  and  Lochage,  both  on 
the  Weft- fide  of. 6'^/>;  Loch-Ponrie^  and  Scorv- 
far  on  the  Eaft-fide ;  and  Ifland  Dierman  on  the 
South-fide :  thefe  Places  abound  with  all  forts 
of  Fifh  that  are  caught  in  thofe  Seas  ;  and  they 
are  proper  Places  for  a  confiderable  Number  of 
Men  to  dwell  in,  and  convenient  for  fettling 
Magazines  in  'em. 

THERE  are  many  Bays  and  Harbours  that 
are  convenient  for  building  Towns  in  feveral 
of  the  other  Ifles,  if  Trade  were  fettled  among 
them ;  and  Cod  and  Ling,  as  well  as  Fifh  of 
leifer  fize,  are  to  be  had  generally  on  the  Coaft 
of  the  leffcr,  as  well  as  of  the  larger  Ifles.     I 

am 


Wcftern  Iflands  of  Scotland.     545 

am  not  ignorant  that  Foreigners,  failing  thro 
the  Weftern  Ifles,  have  been  tempted,  from  the 
fight  of  fo  many  wild  Hills,  that  feem  to  be 
cover'd  all  over  with  Heath,  and  fac'd  with 
high  Rocks,  to  imagine  that  the  Inhabitants,  as 
well  as  the  Places  of  their  Refidence,  are  barba- 
rous ;  and  to  this  Opinion,  their  Habit,  as  well 
as  their  Language,  have  contributed.  The  like 
is  fuppos'd  by  many  that  live  in  the  South  of 
Scotland,  who  know  no  more  of  the  Weftern 
Ifles  than  the  Natives  of  luly:  but  the  Lion  is 
not  fo  fierce  as  he  is  painted,  neither  are  the 
People  defcrib'd  here  fo  barbarous  as  the  World 
imagines :  It  is  not  the  Habit  that  makes  the 
Monk,  nor  doth  the  Garb  in  fafhion  qualify 
him  that  wears  it  to  be  virtuous.  The  Inhabi- 
tants have  Humanity,  and  ule  Strangers  hof- 
pitably  and  charitably.  I  could  bring  feveral 
Inltances  of  Barbarity  and  Theft  committed  by 
Stranger  Seamen  in.  the  Ifles,  but  there  is  not 
one  Inftance  of  any  Injury  offer'd  by  the  IJlafs- 
ders  to  any  Seamen  or  Strangers.  I  had  a  par- 
ticular Account  of  Seamen,  who  not  many 
Years  ago  flole  Cattle  and  Sheep  in  feveral  of 
the  Ifles ;  and  when  they  were  found  on  board 
their  Veflels,  the  Inhabitants  were  fatisfy'd  to 
take  their  Value  in  Mony  or  Goods,  without 
any  further  Refentment :  tho  many  Seamen, 
whofe  Lives  were  preferv'd  by  the  Natives, 
have  made  'em  very  ungrateful  Returns.  For 
the  Humanity  and  hofpitable  Temper  of  the 
Iflanders  to  Sailors,  I  fhall  only  give  two  In- 

ftances  : 


34^       ^  D  E  S  C  R  I  P  T  1  O  N  o/  ^/;^ 

fiances :  Captain  "Jack/on  of  White-Haven^  a- 
bout  fixteen  Years  ago,  was  oblig'd  to  leave  his 
Ship,  being  leaky,  in  the  Bay  within  I/land 
Glafs,  alias  Scalpa,  in  the  Ifle  of  Harries,  with 
two  Men  to  take  care  of  her,  tho  loaded  with 
Goods :  the  Ship  was  not  within  three  Miles  of 
a  Houfe,  and  feparated  from  the  Dwelling-pla- 
ces by  Mountains  ;  yet  when  the  Captain  re- 
turn'd,  about  ten  or  twelve  Months  after,  he 
found  his  Men  and  the  Veflel  fafe. 

CAPTAIN  Lotch  loft  the  Dromedary  of 
London,  of  fix  hundred  Tun  Burden,  with  all 
her  rich  Cargo  from  the  Indies  ;  of  which  he 
might  have  fav'd  a  great  deal,  had  he  embraced 
the  Afliftance  which  the  Natives  ofter'd  him  to 
unlade  her :  but  the  Captain's  Sliynels,  and  fear 
of  being  thought  rude,  hinder'd  a  Gentleman 
on  the  Place  to  employ  about  feventy  Hands, 
which  he  had  ready  to  unlade  her ;  and  fo  the 
Cargo  was  loft.  The  Captain  and  his  Men 
were  kindly  entertain'd  there  by  Sir  Normand. 
Mack-Leod  ;  and  tho,  among  other  valuable 
Goods,  they  had  fix  Boxes  of  Gold  Duft,  there 
was  not  the  leaft  thing  taken  from  them  by  the 
Inhabitants.  There  are  fome  Pedlars  from  the 
Shire  of  Murray,  and  other  Parts,  who  of  late 
have  fix'd  their  Refidence  in  the  Ifle  of  Skie, 
and  travel  thro  the  remoteft  Ifles  without  any 
Moleftation ;  tho  fome  of  thofe  Pedlars  fpeak 
HD  Irifb.  Several  Barks  come  yearly  from  Orkney 
to  the  Weftern  Ifles,  to  fifli  for  Cod  and  Ling : 

and 


Weft  em  Iftands  of  Scotland.  ^47 
and  many  from  Anflruther  in  the  Shire  of  Fife, 
came  formerly  to  Barray  and  other  liles  to  fifh, 
before  the  Battle  of  KJlfyth ;  where  moft  of 
them  being  cut  ofT,  that  Trade  was  afterwards 
negle6led. 

THE  Magazines  and  Fifl-iing-Boats,  left  by 
Foreigners  in  the  liles  above  mention'd,  were 
reckon'd  fecure  enough,  when  one  of  the  Natives 
only  was  left  in  charge  with  them  till  the  next 
Seafon ;  and  fo  they  might  be  ftill.     So  that  if  a 
Company  of  Strangers  from  any  part  fhould 
fettle  to  fifh  or  trade  in  thefe  Ifles,  there  is  no 
Place  of  greater  Security  in  any  part  of  Europe ; 
for  the  Proprietors  are  always  ready  to  affift  and 
fupport  all  Strangers   within    their   refpeftive 
JurifdiQions.     A  few  Dutch  Families  fettled  in 
Stornvay,  in  the  Ifle  of  Lewis,  after  King  Charles 
the  Second's  Refloration,  but  fome  cunning  Mer- 
chants found  means  by  the  Secretaries  to  pre- 
vail with  the  King  to  fend  them  away,   tho 
they  brought  the  fflanders  a  great  deal  of  Mo- 
ny  for  the  Produds  of  their  Sea  and  Land- Fowl, 
and  taught  them  fomething  of  the  Art  of  Fifh- 
ing.     Had   they  ftay'd,  the  Ijlanders  muft  cer- 
tainly have  made  confiderable  Progrefs  in  Trade 
by  this  time ;  for  the  fmall  Idea  of  Fifhing  they 
had  from  the  Dutch  has  had  fo  much  effe£t,  as 
to  make  the  People  of  the  little  Village  of  6V^r»- 
njay  to  excel  all  thofe  of  ihe  neighbouring  Ifles 
and  Continent  in  the  FiChing  Trade  ever  fince 
that  time. 

FOR 


348     ^  Description  of  the 

FOR  the  better  Government  of  thofe  Ifles, 
in  cafe  of  fetting  up  a  Fifhing  Trade  there,  it 
may  perhaps  be  found  necelTary  to  ere61:  the  Ifles 
of  Skie^  LerviSy  Harries,  South  and  North-Fifty 
&c.  into  a  Sherivalty,  and  to  build  a  Royal  Bo- 
rough in  Skie  as  the  Center,  becaufe  of  the  Peo- 
ples great  dirtance  in  remote  Ifles,  from  the 
head  Borough  of  the  Shire  of  Inverness.  This 
would  feem  much  more  necelTary  here  than 
thofe  of  'Boot  and  Arran^  that  \\q  much  nearer 
to  Dunbar  ton,  tho  they  be  neceflary  enough  in 
themfelves. 

I T  may  likewife  deferve  the  Confideration 
of  the  Government,  whether  they  fhould  not 
make  the  Ifle  of  Skie  a  free  Port,  becaufe  of 
the  great  Encouragement  fuch  Immunities  give 
to  Trade ;  which  always  ilTues  in  the  Welfare 
of  the  Publick,  and  adds  Strength  and  Reputa- 
tion to  the  Government.  Since  thefe  Ifles  are 
capable  of  the  Improvements  above-mention'd, 
it  is  a  great  lofs  to  the  Nation  they  fhduld  be 
thus  negleQ:ed.  This  is  the  general  Opinion 
of  Foreigners,  as  well  as  of  our  own  Country- 
men, who  know  them  ;  but  I  leave  the  fur- 
ther Enquiry  to  fuch  as  fliall  be  difpos'd  to  at- 
tempt a  Trade  there,  with  the  Concurrence  of 
the  Government.  Scotland  has  Men  and  Mo- 
ny  enough  to  fet  up  a  Fifliery  5  fo  that  there 
feems  to  be  nothing  wanting  towards  it,  but 

the 


Weflern  Ijlands  of  Scotland.      349 

the  Encouragement  of  thofe  in  Power,  to  ex- 
cite the  Inclination  and  Induftry  of  the  People, 

IF  the  Dutch  in  their  Publick  Edids  call 
their  Fifhery  a  Golden  Mine,  and  at  the  fame 
time  affirm  that  it  yields  them  more  Profit  than 
the  Indies  do  to  S^ain ;  we  have  very  great  rea- 
fon  to  begin  to  work  upon  thofe  rich  Mines^ 
not  only  in  the  Ifles,  but  on  all  our  Coaft  in 
general.  We  have  Multitudes  of  Hands  to  be 
employ'd  at  a  very  eafy  rate ;  we  have  a  health- 
ful Climate,  and  our  Fifh,  efpecially  the  Her- 
ring, come  to  our  Coafl  in  Afril  or  Maj^  and 
into  the  Bays  in  prodigious  Shoals  in  'July  or  Au- 
guft.  I  have  feen  Complaints  from  Loch-Effort 
in  Skie,  that  all  the  Ships  there  were  loaded, 
and  that  the  Barrel  of  Herring  might  be  had 
there  for  four  Pence,  but  there  were  no  Buyers. 

I  HAVE  known  the  Herring-Fifhing  to 
continue  in  fome  Bays  from  September  till  the 
end  of  January  ;  and  wherever  they  are,  all  o- 
ther  Fifh  follow  'em,  and  Whales  and  Seals  in 
particular :  for  the  larger  Fifh  of  all  kinds  feed 
upon  Herring. 


350      y^  Description  of  the 

A  hrief  'De/cription  of  the  Ifles  of  Orkney 
and  Schetlandj  ^c. 

TH  E  iHes  of  Orkney  He  to  the  North  of 
Scotland,  having  the  main  Cdidoman  O- 
cean,  which  contains  the  Hebrides  on  the  Weft, 
and  the  German  Ocean  on  the  Eaft: ;  and  the 
Sea  towards  the  North  feparates  'em  from  the 
Ifles  of  SchetUnd.  Pi5iland  Firth  on  the  South, 
which  is  twelve  Miles  broad,  reaches  to  Dun- 
gisbte-Heady  the  moft  Northern  Point  of  the 
main  Land  of  Scotland,  i 

AUTHORS  differ  as  to  the  Origin  of  the 
Name ;  the  Englijh  call  it  Orknej,  from  Ertck, 
one  of  the  fir  ft  Pi^tjh  Princes  that  poftefs'd  'em : 
and  it  is  obferv'd,  that  Pi^  or  Pight  in  the 
Teutonick  Language  fignifies  a  Fighter.  The 
Irifh  call  them  Jrkive,  from  the  firft  Planter; 
and  Latin  Authors  call  them  Orcades.  They 
lie  in  the  Northern  temperate  Zone,  and  13th 
Climate ;  the  Longitude  is  between  22  Degrees, 
and  1 1  Minutes,  and  Latitude  59  Degrees,  2 
Minutes :  the  Compafs  varies  here  8  Degrees  ; 
the  longeft  Day  is  about  18  Hours.  The  Air 
is  temperately  cold,  and  the  Night  fo  clear,  that 
in  the  middle  of  June  one  may  fee  to  read  all 
Night  long ;  and  the  Days  in  Winter  are  by 
confequence  very  fhort.  Their  Winters  here 
are  commonly  more  fubjecl  to  Rain  than  Snow, 

for 


Weftern  IJlands  of  Scotland.     3  5  i 

for  the  Sea-Air  diflblves  the  latter.     The  Winds 
are  often  very  boiftrous  in  this  Country. 

THE  Sea  ebbs  and  flows  here  as  in  other 
Parts,  except  in  a  few  Sounds,  and  about  fome 
Promontories  ;  which  alter  the  Courfe  of  the 
Tides,  and  make  'em  very  impetuous. 

THE  Ifles  of  Orkfsey  are  reckon'd  twenty  fix 
in  Number ;  the  lelfer  Ifles,  call'd  Holms,  are 
not  inhabited,  but  fit  for  Pafturage:  moft  of 
their  Names  end  in  a  or  ey,  that  in  the  Teutonick 
Language  fignifies  Water,  with  which  they  are 
all  furrounded. 

THE  main  Land,  call'd  by  the  Antients 
FomonAy  is  about  twenty  four  Miles  long,  and 
in  the  middle  of  it,  on  the  South-fide,  lies  the 
only  Town  in  Orkney,  call'd  Kjrktvall,  which  is 
about  three  quarters  of  a  Mile  in  length  ;  the 
Danes  call'd  it  Cracoviaca.  There  has  been  two 
fine  Edifices  in  it,  one  of  'em  call'd  the  King's 
Palace,  which  is  fuppos'd  to  have  been  built 
by  one  of  the  Bifhops  of  Orkney,  becaufe  in  the 
Wall  there's  a  Bifliop's  Miter  and  Arms  engra- 
ven, and  the  Bifliops  antiently  had  their  Refi- 
dence  in  it. 

THE  Palace  now  call'd  the  Bifliop's,  was 
built  by  Patrick  Stervart,  Earl  of  Orkney^  Anno 
i6q6, 

THERE 


352     ^Description  of  the 

T  H  E  R  E  is  a  ftately  Church  in  this  Town, 
having  a  Steeple  ereded  on  four  large  Pillars 
in  the  middle  of  it ;  there  are  fourteen  Pillars 
on  each  fide  the  Church  :  it  is  cali'd  by  the 
Name  of  St.  Magnm'^s  Church,  being  founded, 
as  the  Inhabitants  fay,  by  Magnus  King  of  Nor- 
ivay,  whom  they  believe  to  be  interred  there. 
TJhe  Seat  of  Juftice  for  thefe  Ifles  is  kept  here  ; 
the  Steward,  Sheriff,  and  Comniidary,  do  each 
of  them  keep  their  refpedlive  Courts  in  this 
Place.  It  hath  a  Publick  School  for  teaching  of 
Grammar  Learning,  endow'd  wicha  competent 
Salary. 

THIS  Town  was  ereQed  into  a  Royal  Bo- 
rough when  the  Da^es  pofTefs'd  it,  and  their 
Charter  was  afterwards  confirm'd  to  them  by 
King  James  the  Third,  Jmo  i486.  They  have 
trom  that  Charter  a  Power  to  hold  Borough- 
Courts,  to  imprifon,  to  arreft,  to  make  By- 
Laws,  to  chufe  their  own  Magiftrates  yearly, 
to  have  two  weekly  Markets ;  and  they  have 
alfo  Power  of  Life  and  Death,  and  of  fending 
CommiiTioners  to  Parliament,  and  all  other  Pri- 
vileges  granted  to  Royal  Boroughs,  This  Char- 
ter was  dated  at  Edinburgh  the  laft  Day  of 
March,  i486,  and  it  was  fince  ratify'd  by  King 
James  the  Fiitb,  and  King  Charles  the  Second. 
The  Town  is  govern'd  by  a  Provoft,  four  Bai- 
liffs, and  a  Common-Council. 

ON 


Weftern  Jflands  of  Scotland.     355 

O  N  the  Weft  end  of  the  Main  is  the  King's 
Palace  formerly  mentionM,  built  by  Robert 
Stewart  Earl  of  Orkrfey^  about  the  Year  1574. 
Several  Rooms  in  it  have  been  curioufly 
painted  with  Scripture-Stories,  as  the  Flood 
of  Noah^  Chrift's  riding  to  Jerujalem,  Sec.  and 
each  Figure  has  the  Scripture  by  it,  that  it  re- 
fers to.  Above  the  Arms  within  there  is  this 
lofty  Infcription,  Sic  fuit,  eli,  &  erit.  This 
Ifland  is  fruitful  in  Corn  and  Grafs,  and  has 
feveral  good  Harbours ;  one  of  them  at  KJrk- 
Wall,  a  fecond  at  the  Bay  of  Kjrflon  Village, 
near  the  Weft  End  of  the  lOe,  well  fecur'd 
againft  Wind  and  Weather ;  the  third  is  at 
Deer-Sound^  and  reckon'd  a  very  good  Har- 
bour ;  the  fourth  is  at  Grahamfhali^  towards  the 
Eaft  fide  of  the  Ifle,  but  in  failing  to  it  from 
the  Eaft  fide,  Seamen  would  do  well  to  fail 
betwixt  Lamhholm  and  the  Main  Land,  and 
not  between  Lambholm  and  Burraj,  which  is 
fhallow. 

ON  the  Eaft  of  the  Main  Land  lies  the 
fmall  Ifle  Copinfha,  fruitful  in  Corn  and  Grafs ; 
it  is  diftinguilh'd  by  Sea-faring  Men  for  its 
Confpicuoufnefs  at  a  great  diflance.  To  the 
North  End  of  it  lies  the  Holm^  called  the  Horfe 
oi^  Copw/ba.  Over  againft  Kjrfion  Bdji  lie  the 
Ifles  of  /%  and  0^aes,  which  make  but  one 
Ifle,  about  twelve  Miles  in  Jength,  and  moun- 
Z  tainaus. 


^54    ^  Description  o/  tk 

tainous.     In  this  Ifland  Is  the  Hill  of  /%,  which 
is  reckon'd  the  highefl:  in  Orkney, 

THE  Ifle  of  South -Ronalfh aw  lies  to  the 
Eafl:  of  Waes^  it  is  five  Miles  in  length,  and 
fruitful  in  Corn  ;  Burr  ay  in  the  South  end  is  the 
Ferry  to  Duncansbay  in  Cathmfs,  A  little  fur- 
ther to  the  South  IksSwinm  Ifle,  remarkable 
only  for  a  part  of  PightUnd- Firth  lying  to  the 
Weft  of  it,  called  the  Wells  of  Swmna. :  They 
are  two  Whirl-pools  in  the  Sea,  which  run 
about  with  fuch  Violence,  that  any  VefTel  or 
Boar  coming  within  their  reach,  go  always 
round  until  they  fink.  Thefe  Wells  are  dan- 
gerous only  when  there  is  a  dead  Calm  ;  for  if 
a  Boat  be  under  fail  with  any  Wind,  it  is  eafy 
to  go  over  them.  If  any  Boat  be  forcM  into 
thefe  Wells  by  the  Violence  of  the  Tide,  the 
Boat-Men  caft  a  Barrel  or  an  Oar  into  the  Wells ; 
and  while  it  is  fwallowing  it  up,  the  Sea  con- 
tinues calm,  and  gives  the  Boat  an  opportunity 
topafs  over. 

TO  the  North  of  the  Main  lies  the  Ifle  of 
Shapi^Jba,  five  Miles  in  length,  and  has  an  Har- 
bour at  Eirvkk  on  the  South.  Further  to  the 
North  lie  the  Ifles  of  Stronfa,  five  Miles  in 
length,  and  Edn  which  is  four  Miles ;  Ronft 
lies  to  the  North-Weft,  and  is  fix  Miles  long. 
The  ifle  Sanda.  lies  North,  twelve  Miles  in 
length,  and  is  reckoned  the  moft  fruitful  and 
beautiful  of  all  the  Orcades, 

THE 


Wcflern  Iflands  of  Scotland.      355 

THE  Iflesof  Orkney  in  general  are  fruitful 
in  Corn  and  Cattle,  and  abound  with  ftore  of 
Rabbits. 

THE  Sheep  are  very  fruitful  here,  many  of 
them  have  two,  fome  three,  and  others  four 
Lambs  at  a  time  ;  they  often  die  with  a  Difeafe 
called  the  Sheep-dead,  which  is  occafion'd  by  lit- 
tle Animals  about  half  an  inch  long,  that  are  en- 
gender'd  in  their  Liver. 

THE  Horfes  are  of  a  very  fmall  fize,  but 
hardy,  and  expos'd  to  the  Rigour  of  the  Sea- 
fon,  during  the  Winter,  and  Spring :  the  Grafs 
being  then  fcarce,  they  are  fed  with  Sea- ware. 

THE  Fields  everywhere  abound  with  Va- 
fiety  of  Plants  and  Roots,  and  the  latter  are  ge- 
nerally very  large ;  the  common  People  drefs 
their  Leather  with  the  Roots  of  Tormentil,  in- 
ftead  of  Bark. 

THE  main  Land  is  furnifh'd  with  Abun- 
dance of  good  jMarle,  which  is  u^'d  fuccefsful- 
ly  by  the  Husband-Man  for  manuring  the 
Ground. 

THE   Inhabitants  fay  there  are  Mines  of 

Silver,  Tin  and  Lead  in  the  Main  Land,  South- 

RonalfhaWj    Stronfa^    Sanda,   and  Hoy.      Some 

Veins  of  Marble  are  to  be  feen  at  Buck^uoj, 

Z  2  and 


35^     ^Description  of  the 

and  Sivima.  There  are  no  Trees  in  thefe  Ifles, 
except  in  Gardens,  and  thofe  bear  no  Fruit. 
Their  common  Fuel  is  Peat  and  Turff,  of  which 
there  is  fuch  plenty,  as  to  furnidi  a  Salt-pan 
with  Fuel.  A  South  Eaft  and  North- Well: 
Mooncaufe  high  Water  here. 

THE  irdand  Fifhermen  have  been  fre- 
quently feen  on  the  Coaft  of  this  Ifle,  particu- 
larly in  the  Year  1682.  The  People  on  the 
Coaft  faw  one  of  them  in  his  little  Boat,  and 
endeavour'd  to  take  him,  but  could  not  come 
at  him,  he  retir'd  fo  fpeedily.  They  fay  the 
Fifh  retire  from  the  Coaft,  when  they  fee  thefe 
Men  come  to  it. 

ONE  of  the  Boats,  fent  from  Orkney  to 
Edmburgh,  is  to  be  feen  in  the  Phyficians  Hall, 
with  the  Oar  he  makes  ufe  of,  and  the  Dart 
with  which  he  kills  his  Fifh. 

THERE  is  no  venomous  Creature  in  this 
Country.  The  inhabitants  fay  there  is  a  Snail 
there,  which  has  a  bright  Stone  growing  in  it. 
There  is  abundance  ot  Shell- Fifh  here,  as  Oy- 
fters,  Mufcles,  Crabs,  Cockles,  &c.  of  this 
latter  they  make  much  fine  Lime.  The  Rocks 
on  the  fhore  afford  Plenty  of  Sea-ware,  as 
JlgA' Marina,  &c. 

THE  Sea  abounds  with  Variety  of  Fifli, 
but  efpecially  Herring,  which  are  much  neglec- 
ted 


Wejlern  IJlands  of  Scotland,      ^57 

ted  fince  the  Battle  of  Kjlfith,  at  which  time, 
the  Fifhermen  from  Fife  were  almoft  all  kill'd 
there. 

THERE  are  many  fmall  Whales  round  the 
Codft  of  this  IQe ;  and  the  Am^hibU  here  are 
Otters  and  Seals. 

THE  chief  Produdl  of  Or^^^jf  that  is  yearly 
exported  from  thence,  is  Corn,  Fifh,  Hides, 
Tallow,  Butter,  Skins  of  Seals,  Otter-Skins, 
Lamb-Skins,  Rabbet-Skins,  StuflPs,  white  Salt, 
Wool,  Pens,  Down,  Feathers,  Hams,  &c, 

SOME  Sperma  Ceti^  and  Jmhergreefe,  as  al- 
fo  the  Os  Cdipier  are  found  on  the  fliore  of  feve- 
ral  of  thofe  Ifles. 

THIS  Country  aflPords  Plenty  of  Sea  and 
Land-Fowl,  as  Geefe,  Ducks,  Solan  G^tk, 
Swans,  Lyres,  and  Eagles,  which  arefoftrong 
as  to  carry  away  Children.  There  is  alfo  the 
Cleck-Goofe  ;  the  Shells  in  which  this  Fowl  is 
faid  to  be  produc'd,  are  found  in  feveral  Ifles 
flicking  to  Trees  by  the  Bill ;  of  this  kind  I 
have  feen  many :  the  Fowl  was  covered  by  a 
Shell,  and  the  Head  ftuck  to  the  Tree  by  the 
Bill,  but  I  never  faw  any  of  them  with  Life  in 
them  upon  the  Tree  ;  but  the  Natives  told  me, 
that  they  had  obferv'd  'em  to  move  with  the 
Heat  of  the  Sua. 

Z  J  THE 


358     ^  Description  of  the 

THE  Pi^s  are  believ'd  to  have  been  the  firft 
Inhabitants  of  thefe  Ifles,  and  there  are  Houfes 
of  a  round  Form  in  feveral  parts  of  the  Country, 
called  by  the  name  of  Pi^s  Houfes ;  and  for 
the  fame  reafon,  the  Firth  is  call'd  PightUnd 
or  PentUnd  Firth.  Our  Hiftorians  call  thefe 
Ifles  the  antient  Kingdom  of  the  Pi^s.  Bu- 
chanan  gives  an  account  of  one  Pelus  King  of 
Orkmjy  who  being  defeated  by  King  Exven  the 
Second  of  ScotUndy  became  defperate,  and  kil- 
led himfelf.  The  Effigies  of  this  Belus  is  en- 
graven on  a  Stone  in  the  Church  of  Birfa.  on 
the  Main  Land.  Boethius  makes  mention  of 
another  of  their  Kings,  call'd  B^nnus,  and  by 
others  Gethus,  who  being  vanquifh'd  by  Clau- 
dius C^efar,  wa^  by  him  afterwards,  together 
with  his  Wife  and  Family,  carry'd  captive  to 
Ro?9^e,  and  there  led  in  Triumph,  J^^o  Chrif- 
ti  4^ 

THE  Pi5is^oMs'di  Orkney  until  the  Reign 
of  Kjnneth  the  Second  of  Scotland^  who  fubdu'd 
ihe  Country,  and  annex'd  it  to  his  Crown. 
From  that  time  Orkney  was  peaceably  pofTefs'd 
by  the  Scots ^  until  about  the  Year  1099,  that 
Donald  Bane  intending  to  fecure  the  Kingdom 
to  himfelf,  promisM  both  thofe  and  the  Wef- 
tern  Ifles  to  Magnus  King  of  Norway^  upon 
condition,  that  he  fhould  fupport  him  with  a 
competent  Force :  which  he  perform'd  ;  and  by 
this  means  became  Mafter  of  thefe  Ifles,  until 

the 


Wcftcrn  Iflcinds  of  Scotland.        3  5  9 

the  Reign  of  Jlex^nder  the  Third,  who  by  !iis 
Valour  expell'd  the  Danes.  The  Kings  of  Den- 
mark did  afterwards  refign  their  Title  for  a  Sum 
of  Mony,  and  this  Refignation  was  ratifyM  un- 
der the  Great  Sea  I  of  Df^w?^?'^^  at  the  Marriage 
of  King  James  the  Sixth  of  Scotland^  with  Anne 
Princefs  of  Denmark. 

0 R  K,N ET  hzs  been  from  time  to  time  a 
Title  of  Honour  to  feveral  Perfons  of  great  Qua- 
lity :  Henry  and  William  Sine  lairs  were  calTd 
Princes  of  Orkneys  and  Rothuel  Hephurtf  was 
made  Duke  of  Orkney  :  Lord  George  Hamilton 
(Brother  to  the  prefent  Duke  0^  Hamilton)  was 
by  the  late  King  WILL  J  A  M  created  Earl  of 
Orkney.  The  Earl  of  Morton,  had  a  Mortgage 
of  Orkney  and  Z.etUnd  from  King  Charles  the 
Firfl:,  which  was  fince  reduc'd  by  a  Decree  of 
the  Lords  of  SefTion,  obtained  at  the  Inftance  of 
the  King's  Advocate  againft  the  Earl ;  and  this 
Decree  was  afterward  ratify'd  by  Aft  of  Par- 
liament, and  the  Earldom  of  Orkney^  and  Lord- 
ftip  of  Z^etland^  have  fince  that  time  been 
ere£ted  into  a  Stewartry.  The  Reafon  on 
which  the  Decree  was  founded,  is  faid  to  have 
been,  that  the  EarPs  Deputy  feiz'd  upon  fome 
Chefts  of  Gold  found  in  the  rich  Ar^fierdam 
Ship,  called  the  Carlmelan,  that  was  loft  in  Kft- 
land,  1664. 

THERE  are  feveral  Gentlemen  of  Eftates 

in  Orkney,  but  the  Queen  is  the  principal  Pro- 

Z  4  prictor ; 


3^0     ^Description  of  the 

prietor ;  and  one  half  of  the  whole  belongs  to 
the  Crown,  be  fides  the  late  AccefTion  of  the 
Biihop's  Rents,  which  is  about  9000  Merks 
Scots  per  Afjn.  There  is  a  yearly  Roup  of 
Orkney  Rents,  and  he  that  offers  higheft  is 
preferr'd  to  be  the  King's  Steward  for  the  tinae  ; 
and  as  fuch,  he  is  principal  Judg  of  the  Coun- 
try. But  this  precarious  Leafe  is  a  publick 
Lofs  to  the  Inhabitants,  efpecially  the  poorer 
fort,  who' complain  that  they  would  be  al- 
lowed to  pay  X  coy  for  their  Corn  and  Meal 
in  time  of  Scarcity  ;  but  ibst  tht  Stewards  car- 
ried it  off  to  other  Parts,  anc-  negleded  the 
Intereft  of  the  Country.  The  Interert  of  the 
Crown  fuffers  likewife  by  this  means,  for  much 
of  the  Crown-Lands  lie  wafte :  whereas  if 
there  were  a  conftant  Steward,  it  might  be 
much  better  manag'd,  both  for  the  Crown  and 
the  Inhabitants. 

there's  a  Tenure  of  Land  in  Orkney^ 
differing  from  any  other  in  the  Kingdom,  and 
this-  they  call  Vdal  Right^  from  VUus  King  of 
Norway^  who  after  taking  poffeflion  of  thofe 
Iflands,  gave  a  Right  to  the  Inhabitants,  on 
condition  of  paying  the  third  to  himfelf;  and 
this  Right  the  Inhabitants  had  fucceffively, 
without  any  Charter.  All  the  Lands  of  Ork- 
ney arQVdal  Lands,  King's  Lands,  or  Fewed 
Lands, 

THEY 


Wejlern  Ijlands  of  Scotland.     361 

THEY  diflPer  In  their  Meafures  from  other 
Parts  of  Scotland,  for  they  do  not  ufe  the  Peck 
or  Firlet,  but  weigh  their  Corns  in  Pifmores, 
or  Pundlers ;  the  leaft  Quantity  they  call  a 
Merk,  which  is  eighteen  Ounces,  and  twenty 
four  nfiake  a  Leifpound,  or  Set  ten,  which  is  the 
fame  with  the  Danes,  that  a  Stone  weight  is 
with  us. 


The  Antknt  State  of  the  Church  of  Orkney. 

TH  E  Churches  of  Orkney  and  Zetland  Ifles 
were  formerly  under  the  Government  of 
a  Bifhop  ;  the  Cathedral  Church  was  St.  Mag" 
nus  in  I(Jrkrvall.  There  are  thirty  one  Chur- 
ches, and  about  one  hundred  Chappels  in  the 
Country,  and  the  whole  make  up  about  eigh- 
teen Parifhes. 

THIS  Diocefs  had  feveral  great  Dignities 
and  Privileges  for  a  long  time,  but  by  the  Suc- 
ceffion  and  Change  of  many  Mafters  they  were 
leffened.  Dr.  Robert  Kjid  their  Bifhop,  made 
an  Ereclion  of  feven  Dignities,  viz,,  i.  A  Provoft", 
to  whom,  under  the  Bifhop,  the  Government  of 
the  Canons,  &c.  did  belong;  he  had  allotted 
to  him  the  Prebendary  of  Holj  Trinitj^  and  the 

Vica^ 


362  J  De  sen  I  PTIQ-N  of  the 
Vicarldge  of  South- Ron al{h aw.  2.  An  Arch- 
Deacon.  5.  A  Precentor,  who  had  the  Pre- 
bendary of  O^hify  and  Vicaridge  of  Ste/iui^- 
4.  A  Chancellor,  who  was  to  be  learned  in 
both  Laws  ;  to  him  was  given  the  Prebendary 
of  St.  Mayj  in  Sa^da,  and  the  Vicaridge  of 
Sa/fda,  5.  A  Treafurer,  who  was  to  keep  the 
Treafure  of  the  Church,  and  facred  Veflments. 
&c.  he  was  Re£ior  o^  ^t.  Nicholas  in  Sfrorfa. 

6.  A  Sub-Dean,  who  was  Parfon  of  Hoj^  &c. 

7.  A  Sub-Chanter,  who  was  bound  to  play  on 
the  Organs  each  Lord's  Day,  and  Feftivals; 
he  was  Prebendary  of  St.  Colme.  He  erected 
feven  other  Canonries  and  Prebends ;  to  which 
Dignities  he  aflign'd,  beHdes  their  Churches, 
the  Rents  of  the  Parfonages  of  St.  Colme  in 
Waes,  and  Holy-Crofs  in  Wejlra,  as  alfo  the 
Vicaridges  of  the  Parifh-Churches  of  Sand^ 
Wick,  and  Stromnefs.  He  ere£led,  befides  thefe, 
thirteen  Chaplains;  every  one  of  which  was 
to  have  24  Meils  of  Corn,  and  ten  Merks  of 
Mony  for  their  yearly  Salary  ;  befides  their 
daily  Diftributions,  which  were  to  be  rais'd 
from  tlie  Rents  of  the  Vicaridge  of  the  Ca- 
thedral Church,  and  from  the  Foundation  of 
Thomas  Bifhop  of  Orkney ^  and  the  1 2  Pounds 
ratify 'd  by  King  'James  the  Third,  and  James 
the  Fourth  of  Scotland.  To  thefe  he  added  a 
Sacrifly  and  fix  Boys  to  bear  Tapers.  The 
Charter  of  this  Eredion  is  dated  at  fOrkrvall, 
OM.  28.  At2)io  1544. 

THIS 


Weft  em  Jflamls  of  Scotland.     3(^5 

THIS  was  the  State  of  the  Church  under 
Popery.  Some  time  after  the  Reformation, 
Bifhop  Law  being  made  Bifhop  of  Orkney^  and 
the  Earldom  united  to  the  Crown  (by  the  For- 
feitOre  ar^d  Death  of  Patrick  Stewart;  Earl  of 
Orkney)  he,  with  the  confent  of  his  Chapter, 
made  a  Contract  with  King  'James  the  Sixth,  in 
which  they  refign  all  their  Ecclefiaftical  Lands 
to  the  Crown  ;  and  the  King  gives  back  to  the 
Bifhop  feveral  Lands  in  Orkney^  as  Hom^  Or- 
fhir^  8^c.  and  his  Majefty  gave  alfo  the  Comif- 
farm  of  Orkney  to  the  Bifhop  and  his  Succef- 
fors  ;  and  then  a  competent  number  of  Perfons 
for  a  Chapter  were  agreed  on.  This  Contract 
was  made  Anno  16 14. 


th 


^6^     J  Description  of  tit 


The  Anttent  Monuments  and  Curiofttks  In 
thefe  IJlands  are  as  follow, 

IN  the  Ifle  of  Hoy,  there's  the  Dwarfie-Stone 
between  two  Hills,  it  is  about  thirty  four 
Foot  long,  and  above  i6  Foot  broad ;  it  is  made 
hollow  by  Human  Induftry  :  it  has  a  fmall 
fquare  Entry  looking  to  the  Eaft,  about  two 
Foot  high,  and  has  a  Stone  proportionable  at 
two  Foot  diftance  before  the  Entry.  At  one  of 
the  Ends  within  this  Stone  there  is  cut  out  a 
Bed  and  Pillow,  capable  of  two  Perfons  to  lie 
in :  at  the  other  oppofite  End  there  is  a  void 
fpace  cut  out  refembling  a  Bed  ;  and  above  both 
thefe  there  is  a  large  Hole,  which  is  fuppos'd 
Was  a  Vent  for  Smoke.  The  common  Tradi- 
tion is,  that  a  Giant  and  his  Wife  made  this  their 
their  Place  of  Retreat. 

ABOUT  a  Mile  to  the  Weft  of  the  Main 
Land  at  Skeal-houfe,  there  is  in  the  top  of  high 
Rocks  many  Stones  difpos'd  hke  a  Street, 
about  a  quarter  of  a  Mile  in  length,  and  be- 
tween twenty  and  thirty  Foot  broad.  They 
differ  in  Figure  and  Magnitude,  are  of  a  red 
Colour ;  fome  refemble  a  Heart,  fome  a  Crown, 
Leg,  Shoe,  Laft,  ^Weaver's  Shuttle,  &c, 

ON 


Wejlcrn  Iflands  of  Scotland.     3<?5 

ON  the  Weft  and  Eaft  fide  of  Loch^Stenuis^ 
on  the  Main  Land,  there  is  two  Circles  of  large 
Stone  ere8:ed  in  a  Ditch ;  the  larger,  which  is 
round  on  the  North  Weft  fide,  is  a  hundred  Pa- 
ces Dianiieter,  and  fome  of  the  Stones  are  twen- 
ty foot  high,  and  above  four  in  breadth ;  they 
are  not  all  of  a  height,  nor  pjac'd  at  an  equal 
diftance,  and  many  of  them  are  fallen  down  on 
the  Ground. 

ABOUT  a  little  Diftance  further,  there  is 
a  Semicircle  of  larger  Stones  than  thofe  men- 
tion'd  above.  There  are  two  green  Mounts, 
at  the  Eaft  and  Weft  fide  of  the  Circle,  which 
are  fuppofed  to  be  artificial ;  and  Fibulx  of  Sil- 
ver were  found  in  'em  fome  time  ago,  which 
on  one  fide  referabled  a  Horfe-fhoe,  more  than 
any  thing  elfe. 

THE  Hills  and  Circles  are  belie v'd  to  have 
been  Places  defign'd  to  offer  Sacrifice  in  time  of 
Fagan  Idolatry  ;  and  for  this  reafon  the  People 
called  them  the  antient  Temples  of  the  Gods, 
as  we  may  find  by  Boethius  in  the  Life  of  Ma- 
nius.  Several  of  the  Inhabitants  have  a  Tradi- 
tion, that  the  Sun  was  worfhipped  in  the  larger, 
and  the  Moon  in  the  lefler  Circle. 

I N  the  Chappel  of  Clet^  in  the  Ifle  of  Sandii^ 
there  is  a  Grave  of  nineteen  Foot  in  length  ; 
fome  who  had  the  Curigfity  to  open  it,  found 

only 


^66     ^Description  of  the 

only  a  piece  of  a  Man's  Backbone  in  if,  bigger 
than  that  of  a  Horfe.  The  Minifter  of  the 
Place  had  the  Curiofity  to  keep  the  Bone  by 
him  for  fome  time.  The  Inhabitants  have  a 
Tradition  of  a  Giant  there,  whofe  Stature  was 
fuch,  that  he  could  reach  his  Hand  as  high  as 
the  Top  of  the  Chappel.  There  have  been 
large  Bones  found  lately  in  Wejira,  and  one  of 
the  Natives  who  died  not  long  ago,  was  for 
his  Stature  diflinguifli'd  by  the  Title  of  the  MU 
cle^  or  great  Man  of  Wabs. 

THERE  are  ereQ:ed  Stones  in  divers  parts, 
both  of  the  Main,  and  leder  Ifles,  which  are 
believ'd  to  have  been  erefted  as  Monuments  of 
fuch  as  diftinguilVd  themfelves  in  Battle. 

THERE  have  been  feveral  ftrange  Inftances 
of  the  Effeds  of  Thunder  here  ;  as  that  of  burn- 
ing/C^W-fv^// Steeple  by  Lightning  in  the  Year 
1670.  At  Strommfs  a  Gentleman  had  twelve 
Kine,  fix  of  which  in  a  Stall  were  fuddenly  kilPd 
by  Thunder,  and  the  other  fix  left  alive ;  and  it 
was  remarkable  that  the  Thunder  did  not  kill 
them  all  as  they  (food,  but  kiH'd  one,  and  raifs'd 
another.  This  happen'd  in  1680,  and  is  attef- 
ted  by  the  Minifter,  and  others  of  the  Parifh. 

THERE  is  a  ruinous  Chappel  in  Pap  a  Wef- 
tra^  called  St.  Tredwels^  at  the  Door  of  which 
there's  a  Heap  of  Stones ;  which  was  the  Super* 
ft ition  of  the  common  People,  who  have  fuch 

a 


Weftern  Iflands  of  Scotland.     3(^7 

a  Veneration  for  this  Chappel  above  any  other, 
that  they  never  fail,  at  their  coming  to  xt^  to 
throw  a  Stone  as  an  Offering  before  the  Door : 
and  this  they  reckon  an  indifpenfible  Duty  en- 
join'd  by  their  Anceflors. 

LADr-K,lRK  in  South -Rondlhaw,  tho 
ruinous,  and  without  a  Roof,  is  fo  much  reve- 
renc'd  by  the  Natives,  that  they  chufe  rather 
to  repair  this  old  one,  than  to  build  a  new 
Church  in  a  more  convenient  Place,  and  at  a 
cheaper  Rate  :  Such  is  the  Power  of  Education, 
that  thefe  Men  cannot  be  cured  of  thefe  fuper- 
fluous  Fancies,  tranfmitted  to  them  by  their  ig- 
norant Anceftors. 

WITHIN  the  antient  Fabrick  of  Lady^ 
Churchy  there  is  a  Stone  of  four  Foot  in  length, 
and  two  in  breadth,  tapering  at  both  ends  :  this 
Stone  has  engraven  on  it  the  print  of  two  Feet, 
concerning  which  the  Inhabitants  have  the  fol- 
lowing Tradition  ;  That  St.  Magnus  wanting  a 
•  Boat  to  carry  him  over  PightUnd-Firth  to  the  op- 
pofite  Main  Land  of  Cath^efs,  made  ufe  of  this 
Stone  inflead  of  a  Boar,  and  afterwards  carried 
it  to  this  Church,  where  it  continues  ever  fince. 
But  others  have  this  more  reafonable  Opinion, 
that  it  has  been  us'd  in  time  of  Popery  for 
Delinquents,  who  were  oblig'd  to  ftand  bare-foot 
upon  It  by  way  of  Penance.  Several  of  the 
Vulgar  inhabiting  the  lelfer  Ifles,  obferve  the 
Anniverfary  of  their  refpeftive  Saints.    There  is 

one 


j68     .^  Descriptio  N  o/^/^^ 

onedav  in  Harveft  on  which  the  Vulgar  abftain 
from  Work,  becaufe  of  an  antient  and  fooHQi 
Tradition,  that  if  they  do  their  Work,  the 
Ridges  will  bleed. 

THEY  have  a  Charm  for  flopping  excedive 
bleeding,  either  in  Man  or  Beaft,  whether  the 
Caufe  be  Internal  or  External ;  which  is  per- 
formed by  fending  the  Name  of  the  Patient  to 
the  Charmer,  who  adds  fome  more  Words  to  it, 
and  after  repeating  thofe  Words  the  Cure  is  per- 
form'd,  tho  the  Charmer  be  feveral  Miles  dif- 
tant  from  the  Patient.  They  have  likewife 
other  Charms  which  they  ufe  frequently  at  a 
diftance,  and  that  alfo  with  fuccefs. 

THE  Inhabitants  are  well  proportioned,  and 
feem  to  be  more  Sanguine  than  they  are ;  the 
poorer  fort  live  much  upon  Fifh  of  various 
kinds,  and  fometimes  without  any  Bread.  The 
Inhabitants  in  general  are  fubjefl  to  the  Scurvy, 
imputed  to  the  Fifh  and  Salt  Meat,  which  is 
their  daily  Food ;  yet  feveral  of  the  Inhabitants 
arrive  at  a  great  Age:  a  Woman  in  £i//V  brought 
forth  a  Child  in  the  fixty  third  Year  of  her  Age. 

ONE  living  in  KnJ^on  lately,  was  one 
hundred  and  twelve  Years  old,  and  went  to 
Sea  at  one  hundred  and  ten.  A  Gentleman  at 
Stronfa^  about  four  Years  ago,  had  a  Son  at 
no  Years  old.  One  William  Muir  in  Wejlra 
lived  140  Years,  and  died  about  eighteen  Years 

ago. 


Wejlern  Iflands  of  Scotland.      369 

ago.  The  Inhabitants  fpeak  the  Englijb  Tongue  : 
feveral  of  the  Vulgar  fpeak  the  Damfh  or  Norfe 
Language;  and  many  among  them  retain  the 
antient  Damjb  Names. 

THOSE  of  Deftruciion2iVt  Hofpitable  and 
Obliging,  the  Vulgar  are  generally  Civil  and 
Affable.  Both  of  'em  wear  the  Habit  in  fa- 
fhion  in  the  Low-Lands,  and  fome  wear  a  Seal- 
Skin  for  Shoes ;  which  they  do  not  fow,  but 
only  tie  them  about  their  Feet  with  Strings,  and 
fometimes  Thongs  of  Leather :  they  are  gene- 
rally able  and  ftout  Seamen. 

THE  common  People  are  very  Laborious, 
and  undergo  great  Fatigues,  and  no  fmall  Ha- 
zard in  Filliing.  The  Ifles  of  Orkney  were  for- 
merly liable  to  frequent  Incurfions  by  the  Nor- 
mgUns,  and  thofe  inhabiting  the  Weftern  Ifles 
of  Scotland.  To  prevent  which,  each  Village 
was  oblig'd  to  furnifh  a  large  Boat  well  mann'd 
to  oppofe  the  Enemy,  and  upon  their  Landing 
all  the  Inhabitants  were  to  appear  arm'd ;  and 
Beacons  were  fet  on  the  top  of  the  higheft  Hills 
and  Rocks,  to  give  a  general  warning  on  the 
fight  of  an  approaching  Enemy. 

ABOUT  the  Year  16^4.  Dr.  Graham  being 
then  Bifliop  of  Orkney^  a  young  Boy  called 
WtllUm  Garioch,  had  fome  Acres  of  Land,  and 
fome  Cattle,  drc  left  him  by  his  Father  de- 
ceas'd  :  he  being  young,  was  kept  by  his  Uncle, 
A  a  who 


370    A  Description  0/  f/>e 

who  hada  grtac  defire  to  obtain  the  Lands,  &c, 
btionging  to  his  Nephew ;  who  being  kept 
fhori,  ftole  a  Setten  of  Barley,  which  is  about 
twenty  tight  Pound  Weight,  from  his  Uncle; 
for  which  he  purfued  the  Youth,  who  was  then 
eighteen  Years  of  Age,  before  the  Sheriff.  The 
Theft  being  provM,  tlie  Young  Man  receivM 
Sentence  of  Death  ;  but  going  up  the  Ladder  to 
be  han^'d^  he  pray'd  earneftly  that  God  would 
infliQ  fome  vifible  Judgment  on  his  Uncle,  who 
out  of  Covetoufnefs  had  procured  his  Death. 
The  Uncle  happened  after  this  to  be  walking  in 
the  Church  Yard  of  Kjrkwd^  and  as  he  flood 
upon  the  Young  Man's  Grave,  the  Bifhop's 
Dog  run  at  him  all  of  a  fudden,  and  tore  out 
his  Throa-  ;  and  fo  iie  became  a  Monument  of 
God's  Wra.'n  -^"^ginft  fuch  covetous  Wretches. 
This  Account  Wc^  ^:ven  to  Mr.  Wallace  Mini- 
fter  there,  by  feveral  t'lat  were  WitnefFes  of 
the  Fa6l. 


SCHET' 


Wejleni  Iflands  of  Scotland.      ;  7  i 


SCHETLJNV. 


SCHETLAND  lies  North-Eaft  from  Ork- 
ney^ between  the  60  and  6 ift  Degree  of 
Latitude ;  the  diftance  between  the  Head  of 
Sanda,  which  is  the  moft  Northerly  part  of 
Orkney^  and  Swinburg-head  the  moft  Southerly 
Point  of  SchetUnd^  is  commonly  reckoned  to  be 
twenty  or  twenty  one  Leagues :  the  Tides  run- 
ning betwixt  are  always  impetuous,  and  fwel- 
ling  as  well  in  a  Calm  as  when  a  frefli  Gale 
blows ;  and  the  greateft  Danger  is  near  the  fair 
Ifle,  which  lies  nearer  to  SchetUnd  than  Orkney 
by  four  Leagues. 

THE  largeft  Ifle  o^SchetUnd,  by  the  Natives 
called  the  Main- Land,  is  fixty  Miles  in  length 
from  South- Weft  to  theNorth-Eaft,  and  from 
fixtecn  to  one  Mile  in  breadth.  Some  call 
thefe  Ifles  HethUnd,  others  HoghUnd^  which  in 
the  Norfe  Tongue  (ignifies  Highland  ;  Schetland 
in  the  fame  Language  fignifies  SeaUnd. 

THIS  Ifle  is  for  the  moft  part  mofTy,  and 
more  cultivated  on  the  Shore  than  in  any  other 
Part ;  it  is  mountainous,  and  covered  with 
Heath,  which  renders  it  fitter  for  Pafturage 
than  Tillage.  The  Inhabitants  depend  upon 
Aa  2  the 


37^    ^Description  of  the 

the  Orkney  ifles  for  their  Corn.  The  Ground 
is  generally  fo  boggy,  that  it  makes  riding  im- 
pradicable,  and  travelling  on  Foot  not  very 
pleafant ;  there  being  feveral  parts  into  which 
People  fink,  to  the  endangering  their  Lives,  of 
which  there  have  been  feveral  late  Inftances. 
About  the  Summer  Soljlice^  they  have  fo  much 
Light  all  Night,  that  they  can  fee  to  read  by  it. 
The  Sun  fets  between  ten  and  eleven,  and  rifes 
between  one  and  two  in  the  Morning,  but  then 
the  Day  is  fo  much  the  fhorter,  and  the  Night 
longer  in  the  Winter.  This,  together  with  the 
Violence  of  the  Tides  and  tempeftuous  Seas, 
deprives  the  Inhabitants  of  all  Foreign  Corre- 
fpor.dc.xe  from  Oclober  till  Jfril^  and  often  till 
May  ;  during  which  fpace,  they  are  altogether 
Strangers  to  the  reft  of  Mankind,  of  whom 
they  hear  not  the  leaft  News.  A  remarkable  In- 
flanceofthis  happened  after  the  late  Revolution  : 
they  had  no  account  of  the  Prince  of  OrAnge's 
]ate  Landing  in  England^  Coronation,  &c.  un- 
til a  Fifherman  happen'd  to  land  in  thefe  Ifles 
in  M^;  folio v/ing:  and  he  was  not  believed,  but 
indided  for  High-Treafon,  for  fpreading  fuch 
News. 

THE  Air  of  this  Ifle  is  cold  and  piercing, 
iiotwichdanding  vi^hich,  many  of  the  Inhabitants 
arrive  at  a  great  Age  ;  of  which  there  are  feve- 
ral remarkable  Inllances.  Buchanan  \n  his  Hift". 
lib,  1.  gives  an   Account  of  otiQ  Laureffce,  who 

lived 


Wcfieni  Iflands  of  Scotland,      373 

lived  in  his  time,  fome  of  whofe  Offspring  do 
ftill  live  in  the  Pariih  of  Waes  ;  this  Man,  alter 
he  arrived  at  one  hundred  Years  of /^ge,  niar- 
ried  a  Wife,  went  out  a  fifhing  when  he  was 
One  Hundred  and  Forty  Years  old,  and  upon 
his  return,  died  rather  of  Old  Age,  than  of  any 
Diftemper. 

THE  Inhabitants  give  an  isocount  of  one 
Tairvi/Ie,  who  arrived  at  the  Age  of  One  Hun- 
dred and  Eighty,  and  never  drank  any  Malt 
Drink,  diftilled  Waters,  nor  Wine.  They  fay 
that  his  Son  liv'd  longer  than  him,  and  that  his 
Grandchildren  liv'd  to  a  Good  Age,  and  feldom 
or  never  drank^any  ftronger  Liquors  than  Milk, 
Water  or  Bland. 

THE  Difeafe  that  afflids  the  Inhabitants 
here  mofl-,  is  the  Scurvy,  which  they  fuppofe  is 
occafion'd  by  their  eating  too  much  Salt- Fifh. 
There  is  a  Diftemper  here  caOM  Baftard  Scurvy, 
which  difcovers  it  felf  by  the  falling  of  the 
Hair  from  the  Peoples  Eyebrows,  and  the  fall- 
ing of  their  Nofes,  &c.  and  as  foon  as  the 
Symptoms  appear,  the  Perfons  are  remov'd  to 
the  Fields,  where  little  Houfes  are  buik  for  them 
on  purpoie,  to  prevent  Infe£lio.n.  The  princi- 
pal Caufe  of  this  Diftemper  is  believed  to  bs 
want  of  Bread,  and  feeding  on  Fifh  alone,  par- 
ticularly the  Liver  :  many  poor  Families  are 
fometimes  without  Bread,  for  three,  four, 
Aa  5  or 


^74  ^  DESCRivTioisi  of  the 
or  five  Months  together.  They  fay  hkewife 
that  their  drinking  of  Bland,  which  is  their  u- 
niverfal  Liquor,  and  preferv'd  for  the  Winter  as 
part  of  their  Provifions,  is  another  Caufe  of  this 
Difl:emper.  This  Drink  is  made  of  Buttermilk 
mix^d  with  Water  ;  there  be  many  of  'em  who 
never  tafle  Ale  or  Beer,  for  their  Scarcity  of 
Bread  is  luch,  that  they  can  fpare  no  Corn  for 
Drink  :  fo  that  they  have  no  other  than  Bland, 
but  what  they  get  from  foreign  Veflels  that  le- 
Ibrt  thither  every  Summer  to  fifh. 

THE  Ifles  in  general  afford  a  great  Quantity 
of  Scurvy-grafs,  which  us'd  difcreetly,  is  found 
to  be  a  good  Remedy  agaiofl:  thfs  Difeafe.  The 
jaundice  is  commonly  cur'd  by  drinking  the 
Powder  of  Shell-fnails  among  their  Drink,  in 
the  fpace  of  three  or  four  days.  They  firft  dry, 
then  pulverize  the  Snails  ;  and  it  is  obfervable, 
that  tho  this  Duft  fbould  be  kept  all  the  Year 
round^  and  grow  into  Vermine,  it  may  be  dry'd 
again,  and  pulveriz'd  for  that  ufe. 

THE  Ifles  afford  abundance  of  Sea-fowl, 
which  ferve  the  inhabitants  for  part  of  their 
Food  during  Summer  and  Harveft,  and  the 
Down  and  Feathers  bring  'em  great  Gain; 

THE  feveral  Tribes  of  Fowl  here  build  and 
hatch  apart,  and  every  Tribe  keeps  clofe  toge. 
ther,  as  if  it  were  by  confent.     Some  of  the 

kffer 


Wejleni  Iflands  of  Scotland.        37^ 

JefTer  Ifles  are  fo  crcuded  witli  Variety  of  Sea- 
fowl,  that  they  darken  ihe  '  •.'  when  they  fly 
in  great  NumV.^rs.  After  thcrir  ccning,  which  's 
commonly  In  Fehruarj^  they  fit  vf"v  clofe  to- 
geiher  tor  fonie  tic--..-,  till  they  recover  the  Fa- 
tigue of  thiiir  long  Flight  from  their  remote 
Quarters;  and  af(er  they  have  i^tchM  ijjeir 
Young,  and  find  they  are.  able  to  fly,  they  go 
away  together  to  fome  other  unknown  Place. 

THE  People  inhahiiing  the  lefler  Ifles  have 
abundance  of  Eggs  and  Fowl,  which  contribute 
to  maintain  their  Families  during  the  Summer. 

THE  Common  People  are  generally  very 
dextrous  in  climbing  the  Rocks,  in  queft  of  thole 
Eggs  and  Fowl ;  but  this  Exercife  is  attended 
with  very  great  Danger,  and  fometimes  proves 
fatal  to  thole  that  venture  too  far. 

THE  moft  remarkable  Experin^ent  of  this 
fort,  is  at  the  Ifle  call'd  the  Nofe  of  Braffah^ 
and  is  as  follows :  The  Nofs  being  about  Ijk- 
teen  Fathom  diftant  from  the  fide  of  the  oppo- 
fite  Main  ;  ihe  higher.and  lower  Rocl^s  J  aue 
two  Stakes  faften'd  in  each  of  thtm,  and  ro 
thefe  there  are  Ropes  tied  :  upon  the  Ropes 
there  is  an  Engine  hung,  which  they  call  a 
Cradle;  and  m  this  a  Man  makes  his  way  over 
from  the  grearer  to  the  lelTer  Rocks,  where  he 
makes  a  conliderable  Purchafe  of  Eggs  and 
Aa4  "Fowl; 


17^     -^  Description  of  the 

Fowl;  but  his  Return  being  by  an  Afcent, 
makes  it  the  more  dangerous,  tho  thofe  on  the 
great  Rock  have  a  Rope  tied  to  the  Cradle,  by 
which  they  draw  it  and  the  Man  fafe  over  for 
the  moft  part. 

THERE  are  fome  Rocks  here,  computed 
to  be  about  three  hundred  Fathom  high  ;  and 
the  way  of  climbing  them,  is  to  tit  a  Rope  a- 
bout  a  Man's  Middle,  and  let  him  down  with 
a  Basket)  in  which  he  brings  up  his  Eggs  and 
Fowl.  The  Ifle  of  FouU  is  the  moft  dangerous 
and  fatal  to  the  Climbers,  for  many  of  them 
perifh  in  the  Attempt. 

THE  Crows  are  very  numerous  in  Schef- 
landy  and  differ  in  their  Colour  from  thole  on 
the  main  Land  ;  for  the  Head,  Wings  and  Tail 
of  thofe  in  SchetUnd  are  only  black,  and  their 
Back,  Breaft  and  Tail  of  a  grey  Colour.  When 
black  Crows  are  feen  tht»e  at  any  time,  the 
Inhabitants  fay  it  is  a  Prefage  of  approaching 
Famine. 

THERE  are  fine  Hawks  in  thefe  Ifles,  and 
particularly  thofe  of  Fair  IJle  are  reputed  among 
the  beft  that  are  to  be  had  anv  where  ;  they  are 
obferv'd  to  go  far  for  their  F^ey,  and  particu- 
larly for  Moor- Fowl  as  far  as  the  Hies  of  Orkney^ 
which  are  about  fixtten  Leagues  from  them. 

THERE 


Weflern  IJlands  of  Scotland.     ^7/ 

THERE  are  like  wife  many  Eagles  in  and 
about  tUcie  Ifles,  which  are  very  deftrudive  to 
the  Sheep  and  Lambs. 

THIS  Country  produces  little  Horfes,  com- 
monly callV.  Shelties^  and  they  are  very  fpright- 
Jy,  tho  the  ieaft  of  their  kind  to  be  feen  any 
where  ;  they  are  lower  in  Stature  than  thofe  of 
Orkney^  a«id  it  is  common  for  a  Man  of  ordina-. 
ry  Strength  to  lift  a  Sheltie  from  the  ground:  yet 
this  little  Cieature  is  able  to  carry  double.  The 
black  are  efieem'd  to  be  the  moft  hardy,  but 
the  pyed  ones  feldom  prove  fo  good :  they  Jive 
many  t'mes  till  thirty  Years  of  Age,  and  are  fit 
foi  Service  all  the  while.  Thefe  Horfes  are  ne- 
ver brought  into  a  Houfe,  but  expos'd  to  the 
Rigour  of  the  Seafon  all  the  Year  round  ;  and 
when  they  have  no  Grafs,  feed  upon  Sea- ware, 
which  is  only  to  be  had  at  the  Tide  of  Ebb. 

THE  Ifles  of  SchetUnd  produce  many  Sheep, 
which  have  two  and  three  Lambs  at  a  time ; 
they  would  be  much  more  numerous,  did  not 
the  Eagles  deflroy  them;  they  are  like  wife  re- 
duce to  feed  on  Sea-ware  during  the  Froft 
and  Snow. 


tht 


3/8       A  DeSCRI  PTION  o/ffe 


rhe  Leffer  Ijli's  of  SCHETLAND 

are  06   follow, 

THE  Ifle  TiToWr^,  which  lies  oppofite  to 
Scalloway  Town,  on  the  Weft ;  three  Miles 
long,  and  two  broad. 

F  U  R  T  H  E  R  to  the  North-Eaft  lies  the  Ifle 
of  Whalfey,  about  three  Miles  in  length,  and 
as  many  in  breadth ;  the  Rats  are  very  nume- 
rous here,  and  do  abundance  of  mifchief,  by 
deftroying  the  Corn. 

A  T  fome  further  diftance  lie  the  fmall  Ifles 
call'd  Skerries  ;  there  is  a  Church  in  one  of 
them.  Thefe  Ifles  and  Rocks  prove  often  fa- 
tal to  Seamen,  but  advantageous  to  the  Inha- 
bitants, by  the  Wrecks  and  Goods  that  the 
Wind  and  Tides  drive  afhore  ;  which  often  fup- 
plies  them  with  Fevvel,  of  whichfthey  are  aicoge- 
ther  dertitute.  It  was  here  that  the  CarmeUn 
of  Amfterdam  was  caft  away,  as  bound  for  the 
Eaft-lndies,  Ann.  1664,  Among  the  rich  Cargo 
fhe  had  feveral  Chells  of  coin'd  Gold,  the  whole 
was  valu'd  at  ^000000  Guilders;  of  ail  the 
Crew  four  only  were  faved.  The  Inhabitants 
of  the  fmal]  Ifles,  among  other  Advantages 
they  had  by  this  Wreck,  had  the  pleafurc  of 

drinking 


Weflem  1  (lands  of  Scotland.  ]79 
drinking  liberally  of  the  ftrong  Drink  which 
was  driven  alliore  in  large  Casks,  for  the  fpace 
of  three  Weeks. 

BETWEEN  Braffa-Soand  ^n6  the  oppo- 
fite  Main.  lies  the  V/iicorny  a  dangerous  Rock, 
vifible  only  at  low  Water ;  it  is  fo  call'd  ever 
fince  a  VefTel  of  that  Name  perifh'd  upon  it, 
commanded  by  William  KjrkAldy  of  Grange^  who 
was  in  eager  Purfuit  of  the  Earl  of  Bothwe/iy  and 
very  near  him  when  his  Ship  ftruck. 

ON  theEaft  lies  the  JHq  aWd  Fifiolw  :  to 
the  North-Eaft  lies  Little  Rae,  and  on  the 
Weft  Mickje  Rue ;  the  latter  is  eight  Miles  in 
length,  and  two  in  breadth,  and  has  a  good 
Harbour. 

NEAR  to  Efiifjg  lie  the  Ifles  of  Vemantry^ 
which  have  feverai  Harbours ;  Orney^  little  Pa^a^ 
HeUfha^  Sec. 

T  O  the  North- Weft  of  the  Nefs  lies  Sr. 
Ninian's  Ifle  ;  it  has  a  Chappei  and  an  Altar  in 
ir,  upon  which  fome  of  the  Inhabitants  retain 
the  antient  fuperftitious  Cuftom  of  burning 
Candle, 

PJPJ-STOVR  is  two  Miles  in  length  ;  it 
excels  any  Ifle  of  its  Extent  for  all  the  Conve- 
niences of  human  Life :   it  has  four  good  Har- 
bours 


380     A  Description  of  the 

hours,  one  of  which  looks  to  the  South,  another 
to  the  Weft,  and  two  to  the  North. 

THE  Lyra-Skerriesy  To  call'd  from  the  Fowl 
of  that  Name  that  abound  in  them,  lie  near 
this  lOe. 

ABOUT  fix  Leagues  Weft  of  the  Main, 
lies  the  Ifle  FouU,  about  three  Miles  in  length  ; 
it  has  a  Rock  remarkable  for  its  height,  which 
is  feen  from  Orkney  when  the  Weather  is  fair : 
it  hath  an  Harbour  on  one  fide. 

THE  Ifle  of  BraffA  lies  to  the  Eaft  of 
Tmgwal;  it  is  five  Miles  in  length,  and  two 
in  breadth  :  fome  parts  of  the  Coaft  are  a- 
rable  Ground  ;  and  there  are  two  Churches 
in  it. 

FURTHER  to  the  Eaft  lies  the  fmall  Ifle 
call'd  the  Nofs  of  Brap, 

THE  Ifle  0^ Barray  is  three  Miles  long,  has 
good  Pafturage,  and  abundance  of  Fifli  on  its 
Coaft  ;  it  has  a  large  Church  and  Steeple  in  it. 
The  Inhabitants  fay  that  Mice  do  not  live  in 
this  Ifle,  when  brought  to  it ;  and  that  the 
Earth  of  it  being  brought  to  any  other  part 
where  the  Mice  are,  they  will  quickly  aban- 
don it. 

HJFE- 


Weflern  IJlands  of  Scotland.     381 

HJFEROr-lSLE,  which  is  a  Mile  and 
a  half  in  length,  lies  to  the  South-Eaft  of 
Burraj, 

THE  Ifle  of  Yell  is  fixteen  Miles  long,  and 
from  eight  to  one  in  breadth  ;  it  lies  North-Eaft 
from  the  Main  :  there  are  three  Churches,  and 
feverai  fmall  Chappels  in  it. 

THE  Ifle  of  Hakaftfie  is  two  Miles  long, 
Samphrey  Ifle  one  Mile  long,  Biggai  Ifle  is  a 
Mile  and  a  half  in  length ;  all  three  lie  round 
W,  and  are  reputed  among  the  beft  of  the 
leiTer  Ifles. 

THE  Ifle  of  Fetlor  lies  to  the  North-Eaft 
of  TeUy  and  is  five  Miles  in  length,  and  four 
in  breadth ;  it  hath  a  Church,  and  fome  of  the 
PiBs  Houfes  in  ir. 

THE  Ifle  Vfift  is  eight  Miles  long,  and  is 
the  pleafanteft  of  the  SchetUnd  Ifles ;  it  has  three 
Churches,  and  as  many  Harbours  :  it  is  rec- 
kon'd  the  moft  Northern  of  all  the  Britijh  Do- 
minions. The  Inhabitants  of  the  Ifle  VatU  fay, 
that  no  Cat  will  live  in  it,  and  if  any  Cat  be 
brought  to  it,  they  will  rather  venture  to  Sea, 
than  ftay  in  the  Ifle.  They  fay,  that  a  Cat 
was  feen  upon  the  Ifle  about  fifty  Years  ago ; 
but  hoW|it  came  there,  was  unknown.    They 

obferv'd 


}8i      ^Description  of  the 

obfervM  about  the  fame  time,  how  the  Propri- 
etor was  in  great  Torment,  and  as  they  fuppofe 
by  Witchcraft,  of  which  they  fay  he  then  died. 
There  is  no  account  that  any  Cat  has  been 
feen  in  the  Ifle  ever  fince  that  Genileman's  Death, 
except  when  they  were  cat  ry'd  to  it,  for  mak- 
ing the  above-mention'd  Experiment. 

THE  Inhabitants  fay,  that  if  aCompafs  be 
plac'd  at  the  Houfe  of  Vdjla^  on  the  Weft-fide 
of  the  Ifle  Fetlor^  the  Needle  will  be  in  perpe- 
tual Diforder,  without  fixing  to  any  one  Fole  ; 
and  that  being  tried  afterwards  in  the  top  of 
that  Houfe,  it  had  the  fame  KfFed.  They  add 
further,  that  when  a  VtfTel  fails  near  that  Houfe, 
the  Needle  of  the  Compafs  is  diforderM  in  the 
fame  manner. 

THERE  is  a  yellow  fort  of  Metal  lately 
difcover'd  in  the  Ifle  of  VzU^  but  the  Inhabi- 
tants had  not  found  a  way  to  melt  it ;  fo  that 
it  is  not  yet  turn'd  to  any  account. 


The 


Wejleni  IJlands  of  Scotland.     38} 
The  Antient  Court  of  Jujiice 


IN  thefe  Iflands  was  held  in  Holm,  in  the 
Parifli  of  Twgrvall,  in  the  middle  of  the 
main  Land.  This  Holm  is  an  Ifland  in  the 
middle  of  a  frefh-water  Lake ;  it  is  to  this 
day  call'd  the  Larv-Ti/ig,  and  the  Parifh,  in  all 
probability,  hath  its  Name  from  it.  The  En- 
trance to  this  Holm  is  by  fome  Stones  laid  in 
the  Water ;  and  in  the  Holm  there  are  four  great 
Stones,  upon  which  fat  the  Judg,  Clerk,  and 
other  Officers  of  the  Court.  The  Inhabitants, 
that  had  Law-Suits,  attended  at  Tome  diftance 
from  the  Holm,  on  the  other  fide  the  Lake  -^  and 
when  any  of  them  was  calPd  by  the  OfRcer, 
he  entred  by  the  ftepping  Stones ;  and  being 
difmifs'd,  he  return'd  the  fame  way.  This  was 
the  Pradice  of  the  Da^es.  The  Inhabitants  have 
a  Tradition  among  them,  that  after  one  had  re- 
ceiv'd  Sentence  of  Death  upon  the  Ho/m,  he  ob- 
tained a  Remiffion,  provided  he  made  his  Efcape 
through  the  Croud  of  People  on  the  Lake  fide, 
and  touch'd  Tingwall  Steeple  before  any  could 
lay  hold  on  him.  This  Steeple  in  thofe  days 
was  an  Afjlum  for  MalefaQors  and  Debtors  to 
flee  into.  The  Inhabi' mis  of  this  Ifle  are  all 
Proteftants;  they  generally  fpeak  the  Englijb 
Tongue,    and  many   among  them   retain  the 

antienc 


3^4     ^  Description  o/t/?^ 

antient  Dani[h  Language,  efpecially  in  the  more 
Northern  Ifles.  There  are  ieveral  who  fpeak 
Efigliflj^  Norfe  and  Dutch ,  the  laft  of  which  is 
acquir'd  by  their  Converfe  with  the  Hollanders^ 
that  fifh  yearly  in  thofe  Ifles. 

THE  People  are  generally  reputed  difcreet, 
and  charitable  to  Strangers ;  and  thofe  of  thebeft 
Rank  are  fafliionable  in  their  Apparel. 

SCHETLJND  is  much  more  populous  now, 
than  it  was  thirty  Years  ago ;  which  is  owing 
to  the  Trade,  and  particularly  that  of  their 
FiOiery,  fo  much  follow'd  every  Year  by  the 
Hollanders,  Hamburgers,  and  others.  The  In- 
creafe  of  People  at  Lerwick  is  confiderable ;  for 
it  had  but  three  or  four  Families  about  thirty 
Years  ago,  and  is  fince  increas'd  to  about  three 
hundred  Families :  and  it  is  obfervable,  that 
few  of  their  Families  were  Natives  of  Schet- 
land,  but  came  from  i'everal  Parts  of  Scotland, 
and  efpecially  from  the  Northern  and  Eaftern 
Coafts. 

THE  Fifhery  in  Schetland  is  the  Foundation 
both  of  their  Trade  and  Wealth  ;  and  tho  it  be 
of  late  become  lefs  than  before,  yet  the  Inha- 
bitants, by  their  Induftry  and  Application,  make 
a  greater  Profit  of  it  than  formerly,  when  they 
had  them  nearer  the  Coaft,  both  of  the  larger 
and  leffer  Ifles ;  but  now  the  grey  Fifli  of  the 

largeft 


Weftern  JJIamIs  of  Scotland .      ^85 

largeft  Size  are  not  to  be  bad  in  any  quantity 
without  going  further  into  the  Ocean.  The  Fifh 
commonly  bought  by  Strangers  here,  are  Cod 
and  Ling  ;  the  Inhabitants  themfelves  make  on- 
ly ufe  of  the  fmaller  Fifh  and  Herrings,  which 
abound  on  the  Coaft  of  this  Ifle  in  vaft  Shoals. 

THE  Fifh  call'd  Tusk  abounds  on  the  Coaft 
of  Brajfa  ;  the  time  for  Fifliing  is  at  the  end  of 
May,  This  Fifh  is  as  big  as  a  Ling,  of  a  brown 
and  yellow  Colour,  has  a  broad  Tail ;  it  is  bet- 
ter frefh  than  falted.  They  are  commonly  fold 
at  fifteen  or  fixteen  Shillings  the  hundred. 

THE  Inhabitants  obferve,  that  the  further 
they  go  to  the  Northward,  the  FiGi  are  of  a 
larger  Size,  and  in  greater  Quantities.  They 
make  great  ftore  of  Oil,  particularly  of  the 
large  grey  Fifh,  by  them  call'd  Seths  and  the 
younger  fort  Silhcks :  they  fay  that  the  Liver  of 
one  Seth  aftbrds  a  Pint  o\  Scots  Meafure,  being 
about  four  o(Eagitfl?  Meafure.  llie  way  of  ma- 
king the  Oil,  is  fii  it  by  boiling  the  Liver  in  a  Pot 
half  full  of  Water,  and  when  it  boils,  the  Oil 
goes  to  the  top,  and  is  skim^d  off,  and  put  in 
Vellels  for  ufe.  The  Fifhers  obferve  of  late, 
that  the  Livers  of  Fifh  are  lefs  in  Size  than  they 
have  been  formerly. 

THE  Hamburgers  ^Bremer  Sy  and  others,  come 

to  this  Country  about  the  middle  of  Maj^  fet 

up  Shops  in  feveral  parts,  and  fell  divers  C  om- 

B  b  modiries ; 


38^     ^Description  of  the 

modities;  as  Linen,- Muflin,  and  fuch  things 
as  are  mod  proper  for  the  Inhabitants,  but  more 
elpecially,  Beer,  Brandy  and  Bread :  all  which 
they  barter  lor  Fifb,  Stockings,  Mutton,  Hens, 
&c.  And  when  the  Inhabitants  ask  Mony  for 
their  Goods,  they  receive  it  immediately. 

IN  the  Month  of  Jufie,  the  Hollmders  come 
with  their  Fiiljing-Buires  in  great  Numbers  up- 
•n  the  Coaft  for  Heniiig  ;  and  when  they  come 
into  the  Sound  of  Brajja,  ur-ere  the  Herring  are 
commonly  moft  plentiful,  and  very  near  the 
Shore,  they  difpofe  their  Nets,  &c.  in  order, 
but  never  begin  till  the  twenty  fourth  of  June ; 
for  this  is  the  time  limited  among  themfelves, 
Vv'hich  is  obferv'd  as  a  Law,  that  none  will  ven- 
ture to  tranfgrefs.  This  Fifhing-Trade  is  very 
beneficial  to  the  Inhabitants,  who  have  Provi- 
fions  and  Neceffaries  imported  to  their  Doors ; 
and  Imployment  for  all  their  People,  who  by 
their  Fifliing,  and  felling  the  various  Products 
of  the  Country,  bring  in  a  confiderable  Sum  of 
Mory  yearly.  The  Proprietors  of  the  Ground 
are  confiderable  Gainers  alfo,  by  letting  their 
Houfes,  which  ferve  as  Shops  to  the  Seamen, 
during  their  Refidence  here. 

THERE.^have  been  two  thoufand  BufTes, 
?nd  upwards,  fifhing  in  this  Sound  in  one  Sum- 
mer ;  but  they  are  not  always  fo  numerous ; 
they  generally  go  away  in  Auguji  or  September. 

THERE 


Weftern  I/JanJs  of  Scorland.      387 

THERE  are  two  little  Towns  in  the  largeft 
of  the  SchetUnd  Ifles :  the  moft  antient  of  thefe 
IS  Scalloway,  it  lies  on  the  Weft-fide  oF  the  Ifle, 
which  is  the  moft  beautiful  and  pleafant  part  of 
it.  It  hath  no  Trade,  and  but  few  Inhabitants, 
the  whole  being  about  ninety  in  number.  On 
the  South-Eaft  end  of  the  Town  ftands  the 
Caftle  of  Scalloway^  wliich  is  four  Stories  high  ; 
it  hath  feveral  Conveniences  and  -feful  Houfes 
about  it,  and  'tis  well  furnifliM  with  Water. 
Several  Rooms  have  been  curioufly  painted,  the 
the  better  part  be  now  worn  oft'.  1  his  antient 
Houfe  is  almoft  ruinous,  there  b^ing  no  care  ta- 
ken to  repair  \t.  It  ferv'd  s  a  Gaiiibn  for  the 
Englifh  Soldiers  that  were  ft  re  hidier  by  Cromwel.^ 
This  Houfe  was  built  by  Patrick  Stewart  Earl  of 
Orkney,  Anno  1600.  The  Gate  hath  the  fol- 
lowing Infcription  on  it  :  Patrkim  Orchadi.2  & 
X^Undidi  Comes.  And  underneath  the  Infcrip- 
tion ;  Cu]m  fundamen  faxum  eji,  Domns  ilU  ma- 
nebit ;  Labilis  e  contra  Jt  Jit  arena,  perit :  That 
Houfe,  whofe  Foundation  is  on  a  Rock,  fhall 
(land  ;  but  if  on  the  Sand,  it  fhall  fall. 

THE  Inhabitants  fay,  that  this  Houfe  was 
built  upon  the  fandy  Foundation  of  Oppreffion, 
in  which  they  fay  the  Earl  exceeded ;  and  lor 
that  and  other  Crimes  was  executed. 

THERE  is  a  high  Stone  ereded  between 

Tingwall  and  Scaflowaj :  the  Inhabitants  have  a 

B  b  2  Tra- 


588     ^Description  of  the 

Tradition,  that  it  was  fet  up  as  a  Monument  of 
a  Danijh  General,  who  was  kill'd  there  by  the 
ancient  Inhabitants,  in  a  Battle  againft  the  Dunes 
and  Nortvegians, 

THE  fecond  and  lateft-built  Town  is  Let- 
wick ;  it  ftands  on  that  fide  of  the  Sound  where 
the  Fifliing  is :  the  Ground  on  which  it  is  built 
is  a  hard  Rock,  one  fide  lies  toward  the  Sea, 
and  the  other  is  furrounded  with  a  iMofs,  with- 
out any  arable  Ground. 

O  N  the  North  is  the  Citadel  of  Lerwick, 
which  was  buiic  in  the  Year  1665.  in  time  of 
the  War  with  HolUnd^  but  never  compleated ; 
there  is  little  more  of  it  now  left  than  the  Walls. 
The  Inhabitants,  about  thirty  Years  ago,  fifhed 
up  three  iron  Cannons  out  of  a  Ship  that  had 
been  caft  away  near  eighty  Years  before ;  and 
b;:ing  all  over  Ruft,  they  made  a  great  Fire  of 
Peats  round  thsm  to  get  off  the  Ruft  :  and  the 
Fire  having  heated  the  Cannon,  all  the  three 
went  off,  to  the  great  Surprize  of  the  Inhabi- 
tants; who  fay,  they  faw  the  Ball  fall  in  the 
middle  of  Br&jfa.  Sound,  but  none  of  'em  had 
any  Damage  by  them. 

THERE  are  many  Fi6is  Houfes  in  this 
Country,  and  feveral  of  them  entire  to  this  day  ; 
the  higheft  exceeds  not  twenty  or  thirty  Foot  in 
height,  and  aie  about  twelve  Foot  broad  in  the 

middle 


Wejlern  IJlands  0/ Scotland.     389 

middle ;  they  taper  towards  both  Ends,  the  En- 
try is  lower  than  the  Doors  of  Houfes  com- 
monly are  now,  the  Windows  are  long  and  ve- 
ry narrow,  and  the  Stairs  go  up  between  the 
Walls.  Thefe  Houfes  were  built  for  Watch- 
Towers,  to  give  notice  of  an  approaching  Ene- 
my ;  there  is  not  one  of  them  but  what  is  in  view 
of  fome  other :  fo  that  a  Fire  being  made  on  the 
top  of  any  one  Houfe,  the  Signal  was  communi- 
cated to  all  the  reft  in  a  few  moments. 

THE  Inhabitants  fay,  that  thefe  Houfes 
were  call'd  Burghs^  which  in  the  Saxoff  Lan- 
guage fignifies  a  Town  or  Caftle  fencM  all  round. 
The  Names  of  fortify'd  Places  in  the  Weftern 
Ifies,  are  in  feveral  parts  called  Borg ;  and  the 
Villages  in  which  the  Forts  ftand,  are  always 
nam'd  Borg, 

THE  Inhabitants  of  Orhey  fay,  that  feve- 
ral Burying- Places  among  them  are  caWdBurghs, 
from  the  ^axon  Word  Burying, 

IT  is  generally  acknowledg'd  that  the  P/'^j 
were  originally  Germans^  and  particularly  from 
that  Part  of  it  bordering  upon  the  Baltick  Sea. 
They  were  calPd  Phightian^  that  is  Fighters  : 
The  Romans  ciH'd  them  P^/'.  Some  Writers 
call  them  PiBavi,  either  from  that  Name  of 
Phightian^  which  they  took  to  themfelves,  or 
from  their  Beauty  ;  and  zcQQxdmgly  Boethius,  in 
his  Charader  of  them,  joins  both  thefe  toge- 
ther; 


gpo     A  Description  of  the 

ther  ;    Quod  erant  corporibus  robuflijjimis  cAndi- 
difq^ue  .-and  Verjlegan  fays  the  fame  of  them. 

THE  Romans  called  them  P/<J?/,  becaufe 
they  had  their  Shields  painted  of  divers  Colours. 
Some  think  the  Name  came  from  Pichk,  which 
in  the  antient  Scots  Language  fignifies  Pitch, 
that  they  coloured  their  Faces  with,  to  make 
them  terrible  to  their  Enemies  in  Battle ;  and 
others  think  the  Name  was  taken  from  their 
painted  Habit. 

THIS  Ifle  makes  Part  of  the  Shire  of  Or;^- 
fiey ;  there  are  twelve  Parifbes  in  it,  and  a  grea- 
ter  Number  of  Churches  and  Chappels.  Schef- 
Uifd  pays  not  above  one  third  to  the  Crown  of 
what  Orkney  does. 

THE  Ground  being  for  the  moft  part  boggy 
and  moorifh,  is  not  fo  produftive  of  Grain  as 
the  other  Ifles  and  Main-Land  of  Scotland  ;  and 
if  it  were  not  for  the  Sea- ware,  by  which  the 
Ground  is  enrich'd,  it  would  yield  but  a  very 
fmall  Produd. 

THERE  is  lately  difcover'd  in  divers  Parts, 
abundance  of  Lime-ftone,  but  the  Inhabitants 
are  not  fufficiently  inftrudled  in  the  ufe  of  it, 
for  their  Corn-Land. 

THERE  is  plenty  of  good  Peats,  which 
ferve  as  Fewel  for  the  Inhabitants,  efpecially 
on  the  Main.  THE 


Wejlern  IJlands   of  Scotland.      391 

THE  JmfhibU  in  thefelfles,  are  Seals  and 
Otters  in  abundance;  fome  of  the  latter  are 
train'd  to  go  a  fifhing,  and  fetch  fieveral  forts 
of  Fifli  home  to  their  Mafters. 

THERE  are  no  Trees  in  any  of  thefe  Ifles, 
neither  is  there  any  venomous  Creature  to  be 
found  here. 

THERE  have  been  feveral  ftrange  Fifh 
feen  by  the  Inhabitants  at  Sea,  fome  of  the 
Shape  of  Men  as  far  as  the  Middle  ;  they  are 
both  troublefom  and  very  terrible  to  the  Fifhers, 
who  call  them  Sea-Devils. 

I T  is  not  long  fince  every  Family  of  any 
confiderable  Subflance  in  thofe  Iflands,  was 
haunted  by  a  Spirit  t\\Qy  cdiW^diErorvny^  which 
did  feveral  forts  of  Work ;  and  this  was  the  rea- 
fon  why  they  gave  him  Offerings  of  the  various 
Produds  of  the  Place :  thus  fome  when  chey 
churn'd  their  Milk,  or  brew'd,  pour'd  fome 
Milk  and  Wort  through  the  Hole  of  a  Stone, 
called  Browny's  Stone. 

A  MINISTER  in  this  Country  had  an 
account  from  one  of  the  antienclnhabitants  who 
formerly  brew'd  Ale,  and  fometmes  read  his 
Bible,  that  an  old  Woman  in  the  Family  told 
bim  that  Brorvny  was  much  difpleas'd  at  his  read- 


3p2     J^  Description,  <src, 

ing  in  that  Book ;  and  if  he  did  not  ceafe  to 
read  in  it  any  more,  Browny  would  not  ferve 
him  as  formerly.  But  the  Man  continued  his 
reading  notwithftanding,  and  when  he  brew'd 
refus'd  to  give  any  Sacrifice  to  Broxvn'j ;  and  fo 
his  firft  and  fecond  Brewing  mifcarried,  without 
any  vifible  Caufe  in  the  Malt :  but  the  third 
Brewing  prov'd  good,  and  Brow»j  got  no  more 
Sacrifice  from  him  after  that. 

THERE  was  another  Inftance  of  a  Lady 
in  V/ifiy  who  refused  to  give  Sacrifice  to  Bronf- 
njy  and  loft  two  Brewings ;  but  the  third  prov'd 
good,  and  fo  Browny  vanifhed  quite,  and  trou- 
bled them  00  more. 

I  SHALL  add  no  more,  but  that  the  great 
number  of  foreign  Ships  which  repair  hither 
yearly  upon  the  account  of  Fifhing,  ought  to 
excite  the  People  of  Scotland  to  a  fpeedy  Im- 
provement of  that  profitable  Trade ;  which  they 
may  carry  on  with  more  Eafe  and  Profit  in  their 
own  Seas,  than  any  Foreigners  whatever. 


FINIS, 


^H^