78 ON THE AGEICULTUEE OF THE 



Englisli, tliougli the young people have for a few years been 

 rei^ardino; it as an essential branch of their education to 

 become acquainted with the English language. The Gaelic 

 schools, of course, have been undermined by the Education Act, 

 but still, so fondly do some of the more clannish of the inhabi- 

 tants lean towards the language of their own early youth and of 

 their forefathers, that a good many of the old Gaelic teachers have 

 been- reinstated in small temporary schools, old grain barns and 

 the like. Eoss -shire has a large battalion of Rifle Volunteers, 

 while Stornoway and Cromarty have each an Artillery battery. 

 The two counties also contribute largely to the Caithness, Suther- 

 land, and Eoss Eifle Militia. 



Climate, 



"\t\^en the higli northern latitude is taken into account, the 

 climate of Eoss and Cromarty must be regarded as most wonder- 

 fully mild. It varies a good deal in the different districts, being 

 dry and mild on the east coast and very moist on the west. The 

 mean annual temperature over ths whole of both counties which 

 has been put down at 46", varies very little, but the duration of 

 summer heat on the east coast is greater than on the west coast ; 

 where, on the other hand, the winters are slightly warmer, but, in 

 the northern parts at least, marked by heavier falls of snow than 

 on the east. The mean temperature in the Lewis of the four 

 months — November, December, January, and Februar}^ — is about 

 39°, and that of the other eight months about 49°. The rainfall 

 in the west usually ranges from 35 to 70 inches, in the Lewis 

 from 30 to 50 inches ; and in the east from 20 to 30 inches. This 

 remarkable difference in the rainfall between the east and west 

 coasts is easily accounted for. During eight months of the whole 

 year the winds blow from between the points south-west and 

 north-west, and consequently have to travel over the Atlantic 

 Ocean. In their course over such an immense tract of water they 

 become charged with moisture, which, on striking against the 

 rugged hills of the west, they discharge in the shape of rain. The 

 higher floating clouds that are carried on the westerly winds are 

 attracted by Ben "Wyvis and the other more elevated summits in 

 the county, and are led away along the mountainous range into 

 the wilds of Sutherland ; and thus the moisture that comes with 

 the westerly winds is spent among the hills on the west before 

 reaching the lower levels of the east. Again, the winds that play 

 right into the east coast have only a limited stretch of water to 

 pass over, and thus they bring very little moisture with them. 

 These easterly winds, however, blow over the coldest regions of 

 Europe, and though they are much drier they are considerably 

 colder than the westerly winds, which are raised in temperature 

 by their passage across the Atlantic. The easterly winds are 



