time was formed an acquaintance, which being begun by kindnefs, was accidentally continued by constraint, we derived much pleafure from it, and I hope have given him no reason to repent it.

The weather was now almost one continued ftorm, and we were to fnatch some happy intermiffion to be conveyed to Mull, the third land of the Hebrides, lying about a degree fouth of Sky, whence we might easily find our way to Inch Kenneth, where Sir Allan Maclean refided, and afterward to fona.

For this purpose, the moft commodious ftation that we could take was Armidel, which Sir Alexander Macdonald had now left to a gentleman, who lived there as his factor or fteward,

In our way to Armidel was Coriatachan, where we had already been, and to which therefore we were very willing to return.

We ftaid however fo long at Talifker, that a great part of our journey was performed in the gloom of the evening. In travelling even thus almoft without light thro' naked folitude, when there is a guide whose conduct may be trufted, a mind not naturally too much difpofed to fear, may preferve fome degree of cheerfulness; but what muft be the folicitude of him who fhould be wandering, among the craggs and hollows, benighted, ignorant, and alone?

The fictions of the Gothick romances were not fo remote from credibility as they are now thought. In the full prevalence of the feudal inftitution, when violence defolated the world, and every baron lived in a fortrefs; forefts and caftles were regularly fucceeded by each other, and the adventurer might very fuddenly pass from the gloom of woods, or the ruggedness of moors, to feats of plenty, gaiety, and magnificence. Whatever is imaged in the wildest

tale,

, tale, if giants, dragons, and enchantment be excèpted, would be felt by him, who, wandering in the mountains without a guide, or upon the sea without a pilot, fhould be carried amidft his terror and uncertainty, to the hofpitality and elegance. of Raafay or Dunvegan.

To Coriatachan at laft we came, and found ourselves welcomed as before. Here we ftaid two days, and made fuch inquiries as curiofity fuggefted. The house was filled with company, among whom Mr. Macpherson and his fifter diftinguished themselves by their politeness and accomplishments. By Lim we were invited. to Oftig, a houfe not far from Armidel, where we might eafily hear of a boat, when the weather would fuffer us to leave. the Island.

OSTIG IN SKY.

At Ofig, of which Mr. Macpherson is minister, we were entertained for fome days, L 4 then

then removed to Armidel, where we finished. our obfervations on the island of Sky,

As this Ifland lies in the fifty-feventh degree, the air cannot be fuppofed to have much warmth. The long continuance of the fun above the horizon, does indeed fometimes produce great heat in northern latitudes; but this can only happen in fheltered places, where the atmosphere is to a certain degree ftagnant, and the fame mafs of air continues to receive for many hours the rays of the fun, and the vapours of the earth. Sky lies open on the weft and north to a vast extent of ocean, and is cooled in the fummer by perpetual ventilation, but by the fame blafts is kept warm in winter. Their weather is not pleafing. Half the year is deluged with rain. From the autumnal to the vernal equinox, a dry day is hardly known, except when the showers are fufpended by a tempeft. Under fuch fkies can be expected no great exuberance

berance of vegetation. Their winter overtakes their fummer, and their harveft lies upon the ground drenched with rain. The autumn ftruggles hard to produce fome of our early fruits. I gathered gooseberries, in September, but they were small, and the hufk was thick.

Their winter is feldom fuch as puts a full ftop to the growth of plants, or reduces the cattle to live wholly on the furplufage of the fummer. In the year feventy-one they had a fevere feafon, remembered by the name of the Black Spring, from which the inland has not yet recovered. The fnow lay long upon the ground, a calamity hardly known before. Part of their cattle died for want, part were unseasonably fold to buy fustenance for the owners; and, what I have not read or heard of before, the kine that furvived were: fo emaciated and dispirited, that they did not require