Scotland/Scots > Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland

WESTERN ISLANDS, &c. 157
which the heir of Macleod was expe&ed to
fwallow at one draught, as a teft of his man¬
hood, before he was permitted to bear arms,
or could claim a feat among the men. It is
held that the return of the Laird to Dunve-
gan, after any confiderable abfence, produces
a plentiful capture of herrings •, and that, if
any woman erodes the water to the oppofite
| liland, the herrings will defert the coalt.
Boetius tells the fame of fome other place.
, This tradition is not uniform. Some hold
that no woman may pafs, and others that
none may pafs but a Macleod.
Among other guefts, which the hofpita-
lity of Dunvegan brought to the table, a
vifit was paid by the Laird and Lady of a
fmall idand fouth of Sky, of which the pro¬
per name is Muack, which fignifies fwine.
It is commonly called Muck, which the pro¬
prietor not liking, has endeavoured, without
edfedl, to change to Monk. It is ufual to call
gentlemen in Scotland by the name of their
podedions,