Gazetteer of Scotland

SHE
is yet land, and we fliall be fafe."
Hence the origin of the name, it being
common with the Saxons to ufe Z in—
Head of T in their language. The
Picts, upon their landing in this new
country, erected a number of fmall
eaftles, called afterwards Brought, up-
on which they lighted fires as fignals
cf an approaching enemy ; and fo
contrived, that the whole of Shetland
might be apprized of danger in lefs
than an hour. Having now fecured
themfelves in the beft manner they
could in thefe ifiands, till then unin-
habited, they fent over ambafladors
to the court of Norway, to folicit aid
againft the Caledonians, that they
might regain the country from whence
they had been lately expelled. Their
requeft was readily complied with by
the warlike Harold King of Norway,
who warmly efpoufed their caufe; and,
accordingly, a powerful fleet was fent
to fea without delay, and they landed
on the ifland of Fetlar ; but, as Harold
could not there procure fafe anchorage
for his fleet, he failed to the ifland of
Unit, to a bay which ftili retains his
name, being called Harold's Week ;
and the tradition of the country is
handed down, that it was from this
circumftance it acquired its name.
Harold remained there with his fleet,
till he had collected all the Picts in
Scotland capable of bearing arms, and
then he fet fail for the coafts of Suther-
land and Caithnefs. , Of both thefe
countries he made an eafy conqueft ;
and they became tributary to the
crown of Norway, till the end of the
12th century ; at which time William
the Lion King of Scots overthrew the
Norwegians, and annexed the two
counties to the Scottifh crown. This
was the firft time that we read of any
Danes or Norwegians being in Shet-
land. The Picts, now fruftrated in
their expectation of regaining their loft
country, were reduced to the difagree-
able neceffity of returning to Orkney
and Shetland again ; and a number of
Danifh adventurers took up their a-
bode amongft them, and made inter-
marriages with them ; after which,
the inhabitants were fubject to the
Danes, till they were finally ceded to
the crown of Scotland, in lieu of
dowry, when the Princefs of Norway
was married to King James VI. (as
pentionedunderthearticleORKNEyj;
S HO
Shetland unites with Orkney in form-
ing a ftewartry, which fends one mem-
ber to parliament.
Shf.vock ; a fmall rivulet of Aber-
deenfhire, which joins the Gadie near
its confluence -with the Ury.
Shikl (Loch); a lake in Inver-
nefs-ihire, about 10 miles long, and
2 broad, lying in the pariih of Ard-
namurchan. It has a fmall beautiful
ifland, called Ifland Finn)?, on which
are the ruins of a church, dedicated
to St. Finan ; it difcharges itfelf into
the weftern fea -at Cajlle-Tioram, by
the river ShieL
Shin (Loch) ; a lake in the county
of Sutherland, about 20 miles long,
and from 1 to 2 broad ; the banks of
which, efpecially on the S. fide, are
covered with natural wood ; the pro-
perty of Mr. Monro of Pointxfield. It
difcharges itfelf, at its eaftern extre-
mity, by the river Shin ; which, after
a courfe of 6 or 8 miles, during which
it forms feveral great cafcades, falls
into the head of the Frith of Dornoch,
at a fmall village called In*uerjhin.
Shinnel ; a romantic and pictu-
refque ftream in Dumfries- fhire, in the
pariih of Penpont, which joins its
waters to the Scarr. At the point of
their union, there is a remarbable
ridge of precipitous rocks, over which
the Shinnel ruffles with the greateft
imp'etuolity.
Shira ; a fmall river in Argyllshire,
which rifes in the mountains behind
Inveraray ; and, after forming a fmall
deep lake, called Loch Dubb, falls into
Loch Fyne near the town of Inveraray.
It is named, from its placid appearance,
Sio-reidh, i. e. " always frr.ooth"; evi-
dently contrafted with the Aray or Ao-
reidh, which implied " never fmooth."
The Shira gives name of Glenfhira to
the diftrict through which it runs.
Shochie; a fmall river in Perth -
fliire, rifing in the parifh of Monedie,
and falling into the Tay at Loncarty,
in the parifh of E.edgorton.
SHOTTS; a pariih in Lanarkfhire,
fituated in the N. E. corner of the
county. It is of considerable extent,
being of a rectangular form, 10 miles
in length by 7 in breadth. The fur-
face is in general level, having feveral
hills of confiderable elevation on its
eaftern border ; particularly the Hirft,
the Tilling, and the Cant hills, from
the fummits of which the profpect is