Gazetteer of Scotland

Sky
to have been very extenfive, and ftrong-
ly fortified ; it is furrounded by a bog
or morafs, over which was a bridge of
ftone. In 179I} the population was
234 ; decreafe 1 fifcce 1755.
SKY, or SKYE ; one of the mod
confiderable of the Hebrides, belong-
ing to the county of Itivernefs. Ac-
cording to Mr. Pennant, Dr. Johnfon,
and Dr. Campbell, it is at lead 60
miles long, and nearly the fame in
breadth where broadeft ; but, accord-
ing to others, its greateft length is 50
miles, and its greateft breadth not
more than 40. It is feparated from
the Mainlaind of Scotland by a chan-
nel about 3 leagues broad ; but, at
the ferry of Glenelly, it is not more
than half a mile from the nearer! part
of Invernefs-ihire. The coafts are in
general bold and rocky, abounding
with many fafe and commodious bays,
efpecially at the harbour of Omafay,
in the parifh of Sleat, and the harbour
at the village of Portree. The coun-
try is mountainous ; and fome of the
hills are fo high, as to be covered
with fnow on their tops, at mid-fum-
mer : their fides are covered with
heath and grafs, which afford good
pafture for fheep and black cattle.
Between the mountains are fome fer-
tile valleys ; and the greater part, to-
wards the fea coaft, is plain and ara-
ble, particularly in the parifh of Kil-
muir, where the foil produces good
crops. The ifland is well watered by
a great number of rivers, abounding
with trout and falmon. In the fmall
rivers Kilmartin and Ord, is found
the great horfe mufcle (mytilus mar-
garitifera ) , in which pearls are bred.
Mr. Martin was informed by the pro-
prietor of the Ord, that a pearl has
been found in it valued at 20I. fter-
ling. There are alfo a number of
frefh water lakes, well ftored with
trout and eel. The largeft of thefe
lakes takes its denomination from St.
Columba, to whom is dedicated a
chapel, which ftands on a fmall ifland
in the midft of the lake. That this
ifland, like moft of the other iflands
of the Hebrides, has been formerly
covered with woods, appears from
the large trunks of fir and other trees
daily, dug up in all the bogs and peat
fnoffes in the country. From the
height of the hills, and its infular fi-
tuation, the air feldom continues Ions;
S KY
of the fame temperature : the air is
generally loaded with vapours ; and,
on an average, three days in twelve
throughout the year are fcarcely free
from rain, far lefs from clouds : thefe,
attracted by the hills, fometimes break
in ufeful and refrefhing fhowers ; at
other times, fuddenly burning, like a
water fpout, pour down their con-
tents with tremendous noife, deluging
the plains below, and often deftroying
the hopes of the hufbandman : the
crops alfo fuffer by the ftormy winds,
which fet in about the end of Auguft
and beginning of September. To this
variable temperature of the air, and
uncertainty of the weather, the agues,
fevers, rheumatifms, pecloral affec-
tions, and dyfenteries, the prevailing
diftempers, may be afcribed. That
the climate, however, is far from be-
ing unhealthy, the long life of the in-
habitants fufficiently teftifies. The foil
is in general black and moffy, and bet-
ter adapted for pafture than tillage;
though the latter might be advantage-
oufly followed, if leafes and proper
encouragement were given to the te-
nants. The cdfcroim, or crooked fpade,
is almoft the only utenfd ufed by the
common clafs of tenants in labouring
the ground. The wild birds are com-
mon to the other iflands of the He-
brides; as wild geefe and ducks, gulls,
cormorants, cranes, eagles, crows, ra-
vens, rooks, cuckoos, rails, woodcocks,
muirfowl, partridges, plovers, wild
pigeons, &c. Sky has been long noted
for an excellent fmall breed of cattle ;
and the number of fheep is very con-
fiderable. Of thefe, great numbers are
annually fold at the two fairs of Por-
tree. Befides other reptiles, there are
three fpecies of ierpents common to
this ifland: the firft fpotted black and
white, and very poifonous ; the fecond
yellow, with brown lpots ; and the
third of a brown colour, the fmalleft
and leaft poifonous. Whales and fun
fifh, called by the natives cearbari, are
fometimes .caught in the bays; but
the principal attention is paid to the
white and herring fifheries. Some of
their bays contain fhell fifh in the
greateft abundance and variety. The
people are ftrong, robuft, healthy, and
prolific: they, for the moft part, pro-
fefs the Proteftant religion ; are ho-
neft, brave, and hofpitable : they fpeak
the language, wear the habit, and ob-