Ossian Collection > Journey to the western islands of Scotland

S66 A JOURNEY TO THE
the mere lover of naked nature. The in-
habitants are thin, provifions are fcarce,
and defolation and penury give Httle
pleafure.
The people colledively confidered are
not few, though their numbers are fmall
in proportion to the fpace vsrhich they oc-
cupy. Mull is faid to contain fix thoufand,
and Sky fifteen thoufand. Of the compu-
tation refpeding Mull, I can give no ac-
count ; but when I doubted the truth of
the numbers attributed to Skj, one of the
Minifters exhibited fuch fads as conquered
my incredulity.
Of the proportion, which the produd of
any region bears to the people, an eftimate
is commonly made according to the pecuni-
ary price of the neceflaries of life ; a prin-
ciple of judgment which is never cer-
tain, becaufe it fuppofes what is far from
truth, that the value of money is always
the