Topographical, statistical, and historical gazetteer of Scotland > Volume 2

IBL
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rra
appears to have been under the dominion of the
Danes and Norwegians, as there are many duns and
castles, evidently of Danish origin, besides, many
places which have Danish names ; as Rennibus,
Assibus, Torrisdale, Torribolse, and the like. It
continued under the Lords of the Isles till the
reign of James III. ; and, when their powers were
abolished, their descendants, the Macdonalds, were
proprietors holding directly of the Crown : see
article Hebrides. James VI. resumed the grant to
the Macdonalds made by his predecessors, and trans-
ferred the lands of Islay, Jura, Scarba, and Muckairn,
in Argyleshire, to Sir John Campbell of Calder —
then a great favourite at court — for an annual feu-
duty, of which the proportion was £500 sterling for
Islay. Calder sold all these lands again to Campbell
of Shawfield for £12,000, which is now little more
than the income from them. The islands of Jura
and Scarba were afterwards sold for a larger sum
than that paid originally for the whole. Islay still
continues in the same family. Islay contained, in
1801, 6,821 ; in 1821, 11,008; and in 1831, 14,982.
There is a post four times, and steam-conveyance
twice a-week to Islay. The passage from Tarbert
to Port-Askaig is usually made in four hours.
ISLAY SOUND, the narrow channel betwixt
Islay and Jura. It is little more than a mile in
width, but its navigation is very dangerous from
the rapidity of its tides and the cross and short seas
which occur here. The shores are abrupt but not
high, rarely exceeding 100 feet.
ISLE-MARTIN, a fishing-station in Loch-Broom,
on the west coast of Ross-shire, 5 miles north of
Ullapool.
ISLE-TANERA, a fishing-station and village in
Ross-shire, 3 miles north of Isle-Martin.
ISLE of WHITHORN, a village and small sea-
port in the parish of Whithorn, on the east coast
of Wigtonshire ; 2 miles north of the promontory of
Burgh-head, and 3 miles south-east of the burgh of
Whithorn. It stands at the head of a small bay,
which is almost land-locked by an islet ^ a mile
long, and A of a mile broad, lying across its mouth.
The harbour is, in consequence, well-sheltered and
safe, and possesses internal capaciousness and exter-
nal advantages of position which might apparently
be turned to patriotic and lucrative account. A
pier, erected about half-a-century ago by the aid
of the Convention of Royal Burghs, offers accom-
modation to the few vessels which the unimportant
commerce of the district keeps employed. The
Galloway steamer occasionally touches here on her
way to and from Liverpool ; and small vessels sail
weekly hence to Whitehaven, and other English
ports, engaged principally in the importation of
coals. The little port communicates by good public
roads with Whithorn, Wigton, and Garlieston. On
the shore at the village are vestiges of an ancient
chapel or church of small size, which the learned
author of Caledonia says is traditionally reported
to have been the earliest place of Christian wor-
ship in Scotland. Near the village is a weak
chalybeate spring, whose waters are sufficiently
celebrious to draw to the place invalid visiters.
Population, in 1840, about 420.
ISSURT, a small island of the Hebrides, near
Harris.
ITHAN. See Ythan.