P r o d u c e ,
former value: the late rents were fcarce twelve hundred a WJ
the expefted rents three thoufand. ]
The produce of the iiland is oats ; of which about five thoj
fand bolls, each equal to nine Winchejler buihels, are fown • ftl
hundred of beans, a few peas, and above a thoufand bolls ofpoj
tatoes, are annually fe t: notwithftanding this, five hundred boll
o f oat-meal are annually imported, to fubfift the natives.
The live flock o f the iiland is 3183 milch cows; 2000 cattl
from one to three years old; 1058 horfes ; 1500 iheep ; and50a
goats: many o f the two laft are killed at Michaelmas, and driJ
for winter provifion, or fold at Greenock. The cattle are fold from
forty to fifty {hillings per head, which brings into the iiland aboj
1200/. per annum.: I think that the fale of horfes alfo brings 2
about 300 /. Hogs were introduced here only two years ago. Tie
herring fiihery round the iiland brings in 3001, the fale of herring,
nets too/, and that o f thread about 300/. for a good deal of fte
is fown here. Thefe are the exports o f the iiland ; but the moJ
that goes out for mere neceflaries is a melancholy drawback.
T h e women manufa&ure the wool for the cloathing of their fa-
milies; they fet the potatoes, and d'refs and fpin the flax. They
make butter for exportation, and cheefe for their own ufe.
The inhabitants ip general are fiber,.religious and induftfioJ
great part of the Summer is employed in getting peat for fuel, the
only kind in ufe here; or in building or repairing their houfes,|
for the badnefs of the materials requires annual repairs: before
and after harveft they are bufied in the herring fiihery; and dur-‘]
mg Winter the men make their herring-nets; while the women
are employed in fpinning their linnen and woollen yarn. Tie
light
L i t they often ufe is that o f lamps. From the beginning of
February to the end oiMay, if the weather permits, they are engaged
L laboring their ground : in Autumn they burn a great quantity
I f fern, to make kelp. So that, excepting at new-year’s-day, at
Jiarriages, or at the two or three fairs in the iiland, they have no
jeifure for any amufements: no wonder is there then at their depreffio
n o f f p i r i t s . M b H B I , .
I This forms part of the county of Bute, and is fubjeft to the. fame G o v e r n m e n t .
l o r t of government: but befides, juftice is adminiftered at the baron’s
Bbaily-courr, who has power to fine as high as twenty {hillings ; can
■ecide in matters o f property, not exceeding forty ihillings ; can
inprifon for a month ; and put delinquents into the flocks for three
Hiours, but that only during day time. *
I Take a ride into the country : defcend into the valley at the head JUNE1U
I f the bay ; fertile in barley, oats and peas. See two great ftones,
in form of columns, fet eredt, but quite rude : thefe are common to
ppany nations; are frequent in North Wales, where they are called
rniain hirion, i. e. tall ftones, meini gwir, or men pillars, and lleche:
■ are frequent in Cornwal, and are alfo found in other parts of our
■Hand: their-ufe is o f great antiquity ; are mentioned in the Mofaic
Bwritings as memorials of the dead, as monuments o f friendihip, as
■narks to diftinguiih places o f worihip, or of folemn afiemblies *.
RThe Northern nations eredted them to perpetuate the memory o f
treat aftions, fuch as remarkable duels ; of which there are proofs
■both in Denmark and in Scotland; and the number of ftones was pro-
■portionable to the number of great men who fell in the fight -j-: but
K * JoJbua, xxiv. 26.
■ t Wormii Monuxn. Dan* 62,63* Boethius, Scot, fri/c, et recentes mores> 10.
D d 2 theV