Ossian Collection > Description of the Western Islands of Scotland

ai4 ^ Descriptio N o/tf?^
'BOOT
THE Ifle of Boot, being ten Miles in
length, lies on the Weft fide of Cow^l^
from which it is feparated by a narrow Chan-
nel, in federal parts not a Mile broad. The
North-end of this Ifle is mountainous and hea-
thy, being more defign'd for Pafturage than
Cultivation : the Mould is brown, or black, and
in feme parts clayey ; the Ground yields a good
Produce of Oats, Barley, and Peafe : There is
but little Wood growing there, yet there is a
Coppice at the fide of Loch-fad. The Ground
is arable from the middle to the Southward, the
He5iic-ftone is to be had in many parts of this
Ifle ; and there is a Quarry of red Stone near
the Town of Rofa^ by which the Fort there,
and the Chappel on its North fide, have been
built. Roth/ay, the head Town of the Shire of
Boot and Jrraif^ lies on the Eaft Coaft of Boot,
and is one of the Titles of the Prince of 6cot-
hrni: King Robert the Third created his Son
Duke of Rothfdj^ and Steward oiScotUnd; and
afterwards Queen Mary created the Lord Darn-
ley Dpke of Rothfay, before her Marriage with
him. This Town is a very Antient Royal Bo.
rough, but thinly peopled, there not being a-
b we a hundred Families in it, and they h^vc
no foreign Trade. On the NorthTide of Roth/ay
there ib a very antient ruinous Fort, round in
Form,