Tepute there, where a noble temple had been built, which was plundered
o f its immenfe riches by the foldiers of Antony in his Parthian
expedition. Paufanias alfo fpeaks of the temple of Diana the Anait.
Thefe temples were erefted when the purity of the Celtic religion had
been debafed by the extravagance o f fancy, and idols introduced.
Here we may fuppofe that this Deity was worihipped with the utmoft
limplicity.
pSK3o6. , The number o£ inhabitants in the preibytery of She amounts to
thirteen thoufand. It comprehends Rum, Camay, Muck, and Egr
befides the feven pariihes in this great iiland.
Goa« . Goats might £urn tQ gQod advantage> jf introduced into the few
wooded or flirubby parts of the Hebrides. Thfefe animals miaht be
procured from the neighborhood of Lochnefs j for being naturalized
to the climate would fucceed better than any imported from the
fouthern part of Europe, or from Barbary. As an inducement, I mult
inform the natives of thefe iflands, that in the Alpine parts of Wales, a
well-haired goatikin, fells for feven and fix-penceor half a guinea.
p. 312. This ifland part of the ihire of Invernefs. The Iheriffof that
county appoints a fubftitute, who refides here, and takes cognizance
of fmall difputes about property and petty crimes : but on account
of the diftance, avoids harrafling the inhabitants, by requiring their
attendance on the lords of feffions, andjufticiary courts at Invernefs-,
thejurymen being feleded from among the gentry and inhabitants’
of the main land.
C° 7 sT LL- There 1S coal in -M“11’ nearly inacceffible by reafon of the badnefs
of the road*. Thus this important article, which alone would bring
wealth and comfort to the inhabitants is unaccountably neglefted.
John
John Earl of Rofs dates his treaty with Edward IV. “ Ex caftello
“ noftro ArdthornisP
Lifmore contains about 1500 inhabitants, or between 900 and 1000
examinable perfons. It derives its name from Lios-mor, or the great
garden : but tradition fays, it was originally a great deer foreft : and
as a proof, multitudes of flags horns of uncommon fizes are dug up
in the moors. At prefent there is fcarcely any wood ; but the lefler
vegetables grow with uncommon vigour. The chief produce of the
land is bear and oats. The firft is raifed in great quantity, but abufed
by being diftilled into whiiky. The crops of oats are generally applied
to the payment of rent: fo that the inhabitants are’obliged
annually to import much meal.
The ground has in moil parts the appearance of much fertility,
but is extremely ill managed,'and much impoverilhed by excefs of
tillage and negleft of manure. Pit and rock marie is found here.
The whole ifle lies upon a limeilone rock, which in many parts peeps
above-ground, forming long feries of low iharp ridges. No ufe can
be made of this as a manure for want of fuel to burn it. The peat
here is very bad, being much mixed with earth. It muft be firft
trampled with the feet into a confidence, is then formed into fmall
flat cakes, and muft afterwards be expofed on the ground to dry.
Horfes are in this ifland very iliort lived. They are ufed when
about two or three years old, and are obferved foon to lofe their
teeth. Both they and the cows are houfed during winter, and fed
with ftraw. About too head of cattle are annually exported.
Otters are found here ; but neither foxes, hares, nor rats. Mice
are plentiful and very deftruftive.
There are three fmall lakes. Two abound with fine trouts ; the
third only with eels.