Gazetteer of Scotland

IL A
timeftone, which might be burnt to ad-
vantage with the peat and turf, with
which the ifland abounds. Numbers
of cattle are imported for feeding ;
but it often happens that the paftures
are overftocked, and in a fevere win-
ter many die for want. Ale is fre-
quently made in this ifland from the
young tops of heath, mixing two
thirds of that plant with one of malt,
fometimes adding hops. Boethius re-
lates, that this liquor was much ufed
by the Picts; but, when that king-
dom was overthrown by the Scots,
the fecret of making it was loft. The
total population of the ifland, as fta-
ted in the ftatiftical reports of the 3
parifhes, in 1793, was 9500, and had
increafed 4156 fince 1755. The cli-
mate is moiit, and agues are pretty
frequent; but, upon the whole, it is to-
lerably healthy, and there are many
inftances of longevity. The quad-
rupeds, enumerated by Mr. Pennant,
beiides the domeftic animals, are wea-
fels, otters, and hares; the latter dark-
coloured, fmall, and bad runners. The
birds are eagles, peregrine falcons,
muir-fowl, ptarmigans, red-breafted
goofeanders, wild geefe and ducks,
herons, &c. The fifh are plaife, fmear-
dab, large dabs, mullets, ballans,lump-
filh, Sec. and fometimes is feen that
rare fiih, the kpadcgajler of M. Gouan.
Vipers fwarm in the heath ; and the
natives are faid to cure the wound by
a poultice of hemlock and henbane. In
this ifland feveral ancient diverlions
and fuperftitions are ftill preferved :
the iaft, indeed, are almoft extinct, or
only lurk amongft the verymeaneft of
the people. The late-wakes, ov funer-
als, like thofe of the Romans, were
attended with fports and dramatic
entertainments, compofed of many
parts ; and the actors often changed
their dreffes, fuitable to their charac-
ters. The fubject of the drama was
hiftorical, and preferved by memory.
" The power of fafcination," fays a
late celebrated traveller, " is as ftrong-
ly believed by the inhabitants of Hay,
as it was by the fhepherds of Italy in
times of old.
Kefdo quis te?zercs, ocalis mihl fafclnat
agnos ?"
But, here, the power of the evil eye
affects more the milch cows than the
lambs. If any good houfewife per-
IL A
ceives the effect of the malicious on
any of her kine, fhe takes as much
milk as fhe can drain from the en-
chanted herd (for the witch leaves
very little), then boils it with certain
herbs, and adds to them flint and un-
tempered fteel ; after which fhe fecures
the door, and invokes the three facred
perfons. This puts the witch into
fuch an agony, that fhe comes Hilling
willing to the houfe, begs to be ad-
mitted to obtain relief, by touching
the powerful pot ; the good woman
then makes her terms ; the witch re-
ftores the milk to the cattle, and iri
return is freed from her pains. But,
fometimes, to fave the trouble of thofe
charms (for it may happeri that the
diforder may arife from fome other
caufes than an evil eve), the trial is
made by immerging in the milk a cer-
tain herb, and if the cows are fuper-
naturally affected, it inftantly diftils
blood ! ! The unfuccefsful lover re-
venges himfelf on his happy rival by
charms potent, as thofe of the fliep-
herd Alphejiba:us, and exactly fimilar :
Ne3s tribus nodis, terms AmarjlU co*
lores :
NeBe, Amaryllt, modo*
Donald takes three threads, of differ-
ent hues, and ties three knots on each,
three times imprecating the moil cruel
difappointments on the nuptial bed ;
but the bridegroom, to avert the harm,
ftands at the altar with an untied fhoe,
and puts a fixpence beneath his foot.
The inhabitants marry young, and are
greatly connected by intermarriages,
which muft always be the cafe vk
infular fituations : this gives them a
clanniih diftinction and attachment to
their country, which, however, does
not hinder them from being hofpitable
to ftrangers and vifiters. The Gaelic
is the common language of the com-
mon people ; yet Englifh is well un=
derftood, and taught in all the fchools.
The fong and the dance are the chief
amufements: in the latter they exhibit
an eafe and gracefulnefs of motion,
conjoined with great dexterity, pecu-
liar to the ifland. The gentlemen
once a year treat the ladies with a
ball, where cheerfulnefs and pro-
priety of conduct always prefide; and,
more elegance of manners is now to
be feen, than could well be expected
in lb remote a ntuation. The High-
Ff