Ossian Collection > Journey to the western islands of Scotland

502 A JOURNEY TO THE
BofwelH journal was filled, and he bought
fome paper in CoL To a man that ranges
the jflreets of London^ where he is tempted
to contrive wants for the pleafure of fup-
plying them, a fliop affords no image
worthy of attention ; but in an Ifland, it
turns the balance of exiftence between good
and evil. To live in perpetual want of lit-
tle things, is a ftate not indeed of torture,
but of conftant vexation. I have in ^ky
had fome difEculty to find ink for a letter ;
and if a woman breaks her needle, the
work is at a fl:op.
As it is, the Iflanders are obliged to con-
tent themfelves with fuceedaneous means
for many common purpofes. I have feen
the chief man of a very wide diftrid: riding
with a halter for a bridle, and governing
his hobby with a wooden curb.
The people of Col, however, do not
want dexterity to fupply fome of their
neceflities.