the male at the ufual time. Many of the roebucks perished.

The foil, as in other countries, has its diversities. In fome parts there is only a thin layer of earth fpread upon a rock, which bears nothing but fhort brown heath, and perhaps is not generally capable of any better product. There are many bogs or moffes of greater or lefs extent, where the foil cannot be fuppofed to want depth, though it is too wet for the plow. But we did not observe in thefe any aquatick plants. The vallies and the mountains are alike darkened with heath. Some grafs, however, grows here and there, and fome happier fpots of earth are capable of tillage..

Their agriculture is laborious, and perhaps rather feeble than unfkilful. Their chief manure is fea-weed, which, when they lay it to rot upon the field, gives them a better crop than thofe of the Highlands. They

They heap fea fhells upon the dunghill, which in time moulder into a fertilifing fubftance. When they find a vein of earth where they cannot use it, they dig it up, and add it to the mould of a more commodious place.

Their corn grounds often lie in fuch intricacies among the craggs, that there is no room for the action of a team and plow. The foil is then turned up by manual labour, with an inftrument called a crooked. fpade, of a form and weight which to me appeared very incommodious, and would perhaps be foon improved in a country where workmen could be eafily found and eafily paid. It has a narrow blade of iron fixed to a long and heavy piece of wood, which must have, about a foot and a halfabove the iron, a knee or flexure with the angle downwards. When the farmer en-counters a stone which is the great impediment of his operations, he drives the blade

under

under it, and bringing the knee or angle to the ground, has in the long handle a very forcible lever.

According to the different mode of tillage, farms are diftinguished into long land and bort land. Long land is that which affords room for a plow, and fhort land is turned up by the spade.

The grain which they commit to the furrows thus tedioufly formed, is either oats ór barley. They do not fow barley without very copious manure, and then they expect from it ten for one, an increase! equal to that of better countries; but the culture is fo operofe that they content' themselves commonly with oats; and who can relate without compaffion, that after all their diligence they are to expect only a triple increase? It is in vain to hope for plenty, when a third part of the harvest must be referved for feed.

A

When

When their grain is arrived at the state which they must confider as ripenefs, they do not cut, but pull the barley to the oats they apply the fickle. Wheel carriages they have none, but make a frame. of timber, which is drawn by one horfe with the two points behind prefling on the ground. On this they fometimes drag home their fheaves, but often convey them home in a kind of open panier, or frame of sticks upon the horse's back.

Of that which is obtained with fo much difficulty, nothing furely ought to be wasted; yet their method of clearing their oats from the hufk is by parching them in the straw. Thus with the genuine improvidence of favages, they destroy that fodder for want of which their cattle may perifh. From this practice they have two petty conveniencies. They dry the grain fo that it is eafily reduced to meal, and they escape the theft of the threfher. The taste contracted

from

from the fire by the oats, as by every other fcorched fubftance, use must long ago have made grateful. The oats that are not. parched must be dried in a kiln.

The barns of Sky I never faw. That which Macleod of Raafay had erected near his house was so contrived, because the harveft is feldom brought home dry, as by perpetual perflation to prevent the mow from heating.

Of their gardens I can judge only from their tables. I did not obferve that the common greens were wanting, and fuppofe, that by choofing an advantageous expofition, they can raife all the more hardy efculent plants. Of vegetable fragrance or beauty they are not yet ftudious. Few vows are made to Flora in the Hebrides.

They gather a little hay, but the grafs is mown late; and is fo often almost dry and